Department of Health and Social Care

Tuberculosis: Health Services

Stephen Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the adequacy of (a) treatment and (b) support for people with with tuberculosis.

Steve Brine: ‘The Collaborative Tuberculosis (TB) Strategy for England 2015 to 2020’ was developed by Public Health England (PHE) in partnership with NHS England and aims to reduce suffering and harm caused by TB through lowering the incidence of the disease in England. The Strategy is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/403231/Collaborative_TB_Strategy_for_England_2015_2020_.pdf The strategy aims to tackle TB in under-served populations through the commissioning of integrated, multidisciplinary, case management and support for under-served groups. This multidisciplinary support, which may include third sector organisations, should provide targeted outreach interventions, informed by proven models such as ‘Find and Treat’ in London, including specific services for active case finding among homeless people and those attending substance misuse services. In January 2016, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published a clinical guideline that covers preventing, identifying and managing latent and active TB in children, young people and adults. This is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng33 In 2017, PHE and the National Health Service issued a ‘TB Service Specification and Clinical Policy’ for use by commissioners and TB services. This builds on the work of the strategy to:- improve rapid diagnosis and treatment of active TB disease;- prevention of TB by treating latent infections; and- focus on complex cases with antimicrobial resistance and patients with other risk factors for poor treatment outcome, such as homelessness. NHS England is supporting those clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) with the highest burden of disease to provide latent TB testing and treatment programmes which are essential for reducing the incidence of active TB. In 2018/19, the 46 CCGs with the highest burden of disease were supported with £3,594,000 to provide this service. According to the latest annual report ‘Tuberculosis in England: 2018’ published by PHE, since the peak of TB incidence in England in 2011 the number of people notified with TB had fallen by nearly 40% in 2017. The incidence rate in 2017 was 9.2 per 100,000 population, the lowest recorded rate for England, which for the first time falls under the 10 per 100,000 World Health Organization definition of a low incidence country. The report is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774091/TB_Annual_Report_2018_2.pdf

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public purse was of the NHS treating preventable alcohol-related injuries in (a) 2016, (b) 2017 and (c) 2018.

Steve Brine: Data on National Health Service spending on alcohol related injuries or conditions is not available in the format requested. However, the costs to the NHS in England associated with alcohol misuse are estimated at £3.5 billion each year.

HIV Infection: Drugs

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to increase the number of places on the PrEP Impact Trial in (a) England and (b) Brentford and Isleworth constituency.

Steve Brine: On 30 January, my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced that the Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Impact trial would be expanded to 26,000 people. Work is underway with partners to take this forward. The PrEP Oversight Board has requested information on local capacity to make the additional places available and will review this shortly.

Allergies: Death

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) men and (b) women have died from anaphylaxis; and of those how many had an epinephrine autoinjector administered prior to death in each of the past five years.

Steve Brine: This information is not available.

Eating Disorders: Health Services

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NHS England plans to answer the Freedom of Information request submitted by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on 21 January 2019 on specialist in-patient eating disorder services.

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will undertake an investigation into the reasons NHS England has not replied within the statutory timeframe to the Freedom of Information request of 21 January 2019 from the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on specialist in-patient eating disorder services.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England has confirmed that the Freedom of Information (FOI) request was received on 21 January 2019 but the statutory deadline was not met. A response to the FOI was issued on 28 February 2019. The investigation of instances when the statutory deadline for FOI cases are missed by NHS England is a matter for the Information Commissioner.

Prescriptions: Universal Credit

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, why NHS prescription forms have not been updated to include people in receipt of universal credit who are entitled to free prescriptions.

Steve Brine: A revised version of the FP10 prescription form, featuring a dedicated tick-box for use by Universal Credit claimants who meet the criteria for free National Health Service prescriptions, recently received Ministerial clearance. Any change to the form involves major system and software updates across the NHS to allow the re-designed form to be used and processed. The revised paper form is currently being prepared for testing, to ensure it is compatible with the scanners used by the NHS Business Services Authority. The revised form will be introduced at the earliest opportunity.

Prescriptions: Universal Credit

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many individuals have been wrongly issued with NHS prescription fines due to prescription forms not being updated to include universal credit claimants; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: Work is ongoing to update the FP10 prescription form, to include a new exemption tick box for use by Universal Credit (UC) claimants, is underway and the revised form will be introduced at the earliest opportunity. In advance of this update both UC and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants who meet the criteria for free National Health Service prescriptions are ticking exemption box K on the FP10 prescription form. As a result, the NHS Business Services Authority does not have a data split that enables it to confirm how many penalty charges notices have been issued to UC claimants alone and therefore, how many were issued to UC claimants who had a valid prescription charge exemption.

Care Homes

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the total number of care home beds available in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the UK each year since 2010.

Caroline Dinenage: The following tables show the total number of care home beds available in Coventry, the West Midlands and England each year since 2010, according to Care Quality Commission records. Figures for the United Kingdom are not available from the Department and are a matter for the devolved administrations.England  Number of Care HomesTotal Number of Care HomesNumber of BedsDateNursing HomeResidential HomeNursing HomeResidential Home31 December 20101,8446,0357,87992,518118,22531 December 20114,53113,37717,908213,195256,21831 December 20124,53413,00517,539215,747253,00731 December 20134,53912,80317,342217,470249,97731 December 20144,56612,57217,138220,840247,72131 December 20154,50012,29516,795218,981244,74131 December 20164,46012,00316,463219,658241,94131 December 20174,44911,65716,106220,888239,00931 December 20184,42211,38915,811221,756235,921  West Midlands Region Number of Care HomesTotal Number of Care HomesNumber of BedsDateNursing HomeResidential HomeNursing HomeResidential Home31 December 20101746237978,60310,59831 December 20114791,4071,88622,16424,43031 December 20124711,3971,86822,33125,23131 December 20134771,3721,84922,78324,88331 December 20144881,3301,81823,50224,59231 December 20154871,3081,79523,55424,30731 December 20164801,2791,75923,51424,15331 December 20174851,2461,73123,96723,95331 December 20184881,2261,71424,36023,825  Coventry Local Authority Number of Care HomesTotal Number of Care HomesNumber of BedsDateNursing HomeResidential HomeNursing HomeResidential Home31 December 20107334034561131 December 20111364775551,30431 December 20121362755551,32731 December 20131362755551,30831 December 20141564796921,37931 December 20151563786921,35431 December 20161560756921,31931 December 20171761788541,31731 December 20181659757771,311 Notes: A single location can have both service types of care: a home service with nursing and a care home service without nursing, in which case it is classified as a nursing home.Number of beds and service types can change over time.

Epilepsy: Sodium Valproate

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made any assessment of the reasons for shortages of the Epilim Chrono (sodium valproate) drug available to people with epilepsy.

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made any assessment of whether the UK's expected departure from the EU has affected the supply of the drug Epilimchrono (sodium valproate).

Steve Brine: Sanofi, the company who supply Epilim, have confirmed that all Epilim preparations are currently available. The Department is aware that some modified-release Epilim presentations have recently been affected by manufacturing disruptions at Sanofi’s production site. This has meant that stock levels of some presentations may be lower than usual, but these issues have now been resolved. This supply issue is not related to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. We fully understand the importance of this medicine to patients and are continuing to monitor the situation closely to ensure the supply of Epilim products remain available.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: Land

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of homes that will be built as a result of the sale of NHS assets held by Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Sir Robert Naylor's review of NHS Property and estates, what estimate he has made of the number of acres of land held by Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust that will be sold as a result of the outcome of that review; and what the total proceeds of those sales is estimated to be.

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Sir Robert Naylor's review of NHS Property and estates, if he will publish the full list of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust sites under consideration for sale under the recommendations of that review; what the (a) location and (b) estimated value is of each of those sites; and whether each of those sites is currently being used for patient care.

Stephen Hammond: Sir Robert Naylor published his independent review on National Health Service property and estates in March 2017. It made a series of recommendations designed to support transformation of the NHS estate. The Review did not identify surplus land, nor recommend the sale of specific sites. It is for NHS land owners to determine which are surplus to requirements and to make them available for disposal. NHS land owners contribute to sustainability and transformation partnerships (STP) estates strategies which consider the nature of the estate that is required across an STP to deliver clinical strategy and meet patient needs.The NHS Surplus Land Annual Data Collection collects data on land owned by NHS trusts and foundation trusts which has been declared surplus and planned for future disposal. Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust reported only one planned disposal in the 2017-18 collection. This data is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-surplus-land/2017-18-englandThe planned disposal related to vacant land on the Clatterbridge Hospital site. The land was disposed via statutory transfer to Homes England in March 2018. The sales proceeds, as reported in the Trust’s Annual Report and Accounts, were £4.4 million. In the 2017-18 data collection it was estimated that the site could deliver 95 homes. This figure will be confirmed through the planning process.

Dementia: Social Services

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long Term Plan, what proportion of the £4.5 billion allocated to community care will be disbursed to support dementia patients.

Caroline Dinenage: Following the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan, the National Implementation Framework, to be published in the spring, will provide further information on how the Long Term Plan will be implemented. Additional details, based on local health system five year plans, will be brought together in a detailed national implementation plan in the autumn. We will continue to work closely with key partners and stakeholders, including the Alzheimer’s Society and other voluntary sector partners, as we support the National Health Service in England to deliver the commitments set out in the Long Term Plan.

Dementia

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase the number of social care workers trained to level Tier 2 of the Dementia Training Standards Framework.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government’s Dementia 2020 Challenge and associated implementation plan describes a programme of action to deliver sustained improvements in dementia care. The Challenge commits to all staff having the training they need by 2020. The requisite training needs are set out in the Dementia Training Standards Framework. Good progress has been made to date in training the social care workforce with around half of those estimated to need tier 2 have undertaken training to a level equivalent to it. The Department is currently exploring options for further increasing take up of tier 2 training to everyone who needs it.

Mental Health Services: Merseyside

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) available and (b) occupied beds for mental illness were open overnight under the care of consultants in (a) Wirral and (b) Merseyside on average in each of the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information is not held in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Digital figures for the number of detentions under the Mental Health Act for 2017-18 referred to on page 11 of the CQC report entitled Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2017-18, what steps he is taking to address the underreporting of such detentions.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS Digital is working in co-ordination with other arm’s length bodies to improve the reporting of detentions under the Mental Health Act 1983.The official source of detentions changed from the KP90 aggregate collection to the administrative data source Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) from 2016-17 data. Submission to the MHSDS is mandatory for all National Health Service and independent providers that detain patients under the Mental Health Act. The Information Standards Notice makes it a statutory duty for NHS funded mental health services to submit this data to MHSDS.To support data quality improvement, NHS Digital provides data quality feedback to providers via reports when MHSDS submissions are made, followed by additional feedback to providers in the monthly data submission cycle. Further improvements to this feedback are being planned.NHS Digital provides comprehensive technical guidance documentation to support the accurate completion of MHSDS data. Providers and suppliers are kept updated with developments via regular workshops and newsletters.NHS Digital is supporting the Care Quality Commission in their ongoing work to contact former KP90 submitters that have failed to make submissions to the MHSDS about their detentions. This work will provide more detail on the reasons for non-submission and we will work with partners to resolve the issues identified.Further information is available in ‘Mental Health Act Statistics, Annual Figures: Background Data Quality Report England, 2017-18’, which is available at the following link:https://files.digital.nhs.uk/3C/C59157/ment-heal-act-stat-eng-2017-18-back-data-qual-rep.pdf

Mental Health Services: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 28 of the CQC report entitled Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2017-18, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of child admissions to adult psychiatric wards.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England’s children and young people’s mental health transformation programme, improvements in crisis services, and national specialised commissioning of services are all contributing to ensuring children and young people get the help they need from the right services.Progress is being made, as evidenced by the continued downward trend in the use of adult mental health beds, as recognised by the Care Quality Commission’s ‘Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2017-18’ report, achieved against a background of rising referrals.

Social Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the civil service briefing entitled Introduction to no deal adult social care planning, as reported by The Guardian on 26 February 2019.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department does not comment on leaked documents. Information on a ‘no deal’ European Union exit planning for adult social care is available on GOV.UK at the following links: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-to-the-health-and-care-sector-preparations-for-a-potential-no-deal-brexit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioners-and-providers-of-social-care-brexit-planning-update

Social Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) briefings and (b) advice his Department has provided to social care providers on the potential effect on that sector of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Caroline Dinenage: Ministers and the Department have written to social care providers and commissioners about the Government's preparations for a potential ‘no deal’ European Union exit, and about actions that providers and commissioners of social care services should take to prepare for, and manage, the risks of a ‘no deal’ EU exit scenario. This correspondence and guidance is available online on GOV.UK.

Social Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of local authorities' capacity to take over the social care of people if the existing providers of that care fail.

Caroline Dinenage: If an adult social care provider’s business fails, local authorities have a statutory duty, under the Care Act 2014, to meet people’s care and support needs temporarily until suitable, alternative provision can be arranged. The Government is working with local authorities and providers to ensure that adult social care services continue as normal. This includes ensuring that effective and up-to-date contingency plans are in place.

Tongue-tie

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to enable more midwifes to be qualified tongue tie practitioners.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Student midwives are trained to look for tongue ties as part of the routine new born examination that midwives undertake after birth. However, they are not always easily identifiable at this stage and may not become apparent until babies have feeding problems. It is for the National Health Service locally to ensure appropriate services are available for the diagnosis and treatment of tongue tie. Tongue tie practitioners may be registered nurses, doctors or midwives and they undertake specialist post-registration training to do this based on organisational need.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Disclosure of Information

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of whether the Information Sharing to Tackle Violence scheme is fully compliant with data protection legislation.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Individuals cannot be identified either directly or indirectly from the information that is shared and because the scheme does not involve the sharing of personal data or confidential patient information, the scheme is fully compliant with data protection legislation. Anonymous information is not covered by the General Data Protection Regulation or Data Protection Act 2018.

Prostate Cancer: Medical Treatments

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to introduce high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy for prostate cancer more widely through the NHS.

Steve Brine: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a technique where high frequency ultrasound waves are aimed at the cancer, heating up the cells with the aim to causing cell death and eradicating the cancer. The technique was reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in 2012 who concluded that the evidence on the efficacy of treatment was limited and recommended that HIFU be used in the research setting only (Interventional procedures guidance IPG424). For this reason, use of the technique in the National Health Service is limited to research only and there are currently no plans to extend use of the technique without development of the current evidence base.

Autism: Psychiatric Hospitals

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve support for autism in inpatient mental health facilities.

Caroline Dinenage: NHS Improvement has introduced Learning Disability Improvement Standards for providers of National Health Service funded care in England to help ensure that trusts monitor, improve and review the care they provide to people with a learning disability or autism. Inclusion of the improvement standards in the NHS Standard contract 2019/20, mandated by NHS England for use by commissioners of all healthcare services except primary care, means that all providers, including those that provide mental health inpatient facilities, must have regard to the improvement standards. On 13 February 2019 the Department launched a consultation on mandatory learning disability and autism training to ensure that staff working in health and social care understand the needs of people with learning disabilities and autism and have the skills to provide them with the most effective care and support. Officials have worked with people with lived experience of learning disabilities and autism to develop the consultation proposals. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is undertaking a thematic review of the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide inpatient or residential care for people with mental health problems and a learning disability and/or autism. It will review and make recommendations on the use of physical restraint, prolonged seclusion and segregation to ensure that the least restrictive approaches are adopted. The NHS Long Term plan commits NHS England to work with the CQC to implement its recommendations.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to extend routine cervical screening to women aged 65 and over.

Steve Brine: The National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme currently stops sending invitations for cervical screening after a woman reaches 65, unless they need ongoing surveillance or follow up. This is generally required if a woman has had an abnormal result in any of her three most recent tests or is recommended for early repeats owing to a previous abnormality. The natural history of cervical cancer means that it is unlikely that women of 65 and over who have been regularly screened and discharged from the programme will go on to develop the disease. We also know that screening becomes more uncomfortable after menopause. The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recently reviewed a proposal about the care of women aged 64 exiting the programme. The outcome of this proposal will be published in the UK NSC’s minutes which will be available in six weeks at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-national-screening-committee-uk-nsc

Smoking: Health Services

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of services provided by local authorities to help people give up smoking.

Steve Brine: NHS Digital collects quarterly data from stop smoking services in England, recording the number of people making a quit attempt, the numbers that are successful, demographic variables and success rates by different quitting methods. The effectiveness of services has remained steady in recent years with a 50% quit rate on average, with substantially higher success rates for some quit methods. The latest statistics on National Health Service stop smoking services in England are available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-nhs-stop-smoking-services-in-england

Smoking: Health Services

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations his Department has received from local authorities on services provided by councils to help people give up smoking in the last 12 months.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations his Department has received from the charity sector on services provided by councils to help people give up smoking in the last 12 months.

Steve Brine: A search of the Department’s Ministerial correspondence database has identified no correspondence received from local authorities or the charity sector on services provided by councils to help people give up smoking in the last 12 months. This figure represents correspondence received by the Department’s Ministerial correspondence unit only.

NHS: Loans

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his department has made of the total amount in interim financial support loans given to NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts and the associated interest rates in (a) London and (b) England in each year since 2015.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) repayments and (b) interest paid on interim financial support loans by each NHS Trust and Foundation Trust in (i) London and (ii) England in each year since 2015.

Stephen Hammond: The Department publishes data annually on interim support loans, including new loans issued, repaid and outstanding balances. This report accompanies the Department’s annual report and the 2017-18 version can be found using the following link (in section 4): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/725278/2017-18_Section_40_Report_Final.pdf The report does not include information on the interest rates charged on the interim loans issued. This can be found in attachment A for London and for England. The report does not include information on interest paid on interim loans by each National Health Service trust and foundation trust. This can be found in attachment B for London and England. 



PQ226714 & PQ226715 linked - Attachment B
(Word Document, 30.24 KB)




PQ226714 & PQ226715 linked - Attachment A
(Word Document, 19.97 KB)

Midwives and Nurses: Training

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2019 to Question 220908 on Nurses: Training, if he will place in the Library a list of the providers of nursing and midwifery courses in England; and how many nursing and midwifery applications there were to each provider of nursing and midwifery courses in each year since 2015.

Stephen Hammond: A list of nursing and midwifery providers is available at following link:https://digital.ucas.com/search/results?SearchText=nursing&ProviderText=&SubjectText=&AutoSuggestTypeThe Department is not responsible for collecting data on applications to individual providers. University application data is collected by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. More details are available at the following link:https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/

Radiotherapy: Clinical Trials

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that there is no disruption to the quality assurance of radiotherapy clinical trials and the patients who have enrolled in those trials after the Secure File Transfer System is discontinued after 31 March 2019.

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ensure that there is no disruption to the quality assurance of radiotherapy clinical trials, or other trials using the Secure File Transfer Service (SFTS), NHS Digital has identified alternative platforms. These alternatives are the Messaging Exchange for Social Care and Health, the Data Landing Platform and the Strategic Data Collection Service. NHS Digital is advising users on the most suitable alternative service for their needs and supporting transition. NHS Digital is also looking into the feasibility of extending SFTS to 31 May 2019 to give users additional time to transfer to one of the alternative platforms.

NHS: Standards

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans to undertake a public consultation on the proposed review of NHS performance times.

Stephen Hammond: The clinically-led review of standards was announced by the Prime Minister in June 2018. The review is considering the appropriateness of operational standards for physical and mental health relating to planned, unplanned urgent or emergency care, as well as cancer.The Long Term Plan provides a platform upon which innovative models of patient care can and are being developed. In that context, the National Health Service’s National Medical Director has been working with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Healthwatch England and many others to consider what matters most to patients, on the clinical issues with the current target regime, and what NHS staff believe will help them provide the best quality care for patients.The review will report its interim findings in the spring of 2019, after which any recommended changes will be carefully tested across the NHS and be subject to a rigorous approach before they are implemented.We are committed to ensuring that any potential changes to NHS performance standards are based on clinical evidence, and work in the interest of patient safety. If new standards are implemented they will not diminish current performance standards.

Psychiatric Patients: Transport

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2019 to Question 220201 on Hospitals: Transport, by what date all of the new mental health vehicles to reduce inappropriate use of ambulances and police vehicles will be in place.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12th February 2019 to Question 220198 on Hospitals: Transport, whether his Department has plans to make an assessment of the effect of police transportation on the recovery and health of people in mental health crisis.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS England will be setting out more detailed information about implementation of the NHS Long Term Plan in the spring. This will include more detail on funding and ambitions over the first five years of the plan, including the ambitions to improve the capacity of the ambulance services to respond to mental health needs. The Department has no plans to make an assessment of the effect of police transportation on the recovery and health of people in mental health crisis.

NHS: Drugs and Medical Equipment

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference article entitled, How will Brexit affect health services in the UK? An updated evaluation, published in the Lancet on 27 February 2019,when his Department plans to publish the (a) medicines and (b) medical devices for which his Department has supply concerns in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to tarticle entitled, How will Brexit affect health services in the UK? An updated evaluation’, published in the Lancet on 27 February 2019, what steps his Department is taking to ensure access to insulin in the event that the UK leaves the EU (a) with and (b) without a withdrawal agreement.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the article entitled, How will Brexit affect health services in the UK? An updated evaluation, published on 27 February 2019, whether his Department’s stockpiling contingency plans will ensure medicinal supplies are secured in the long term after the UK leaves the EU.

Stephen Hammond: The Department is working closely with trade bodies, product suppliers, the health and care system in England, the devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies, to make detailed plans to ensure the continuation of the supply of medical products to the whole of the United Kingdom in the event of a ‘no deal’ European Union exit. We have also assessed contract risks associated with potential EU exit in the broader National Health Service and within the devolved administrations, and are working with suppliers to ensure adequate mitigations are in place for non-clinical goods and services (e.g. hospital food, laundry, IT contracts etc). The key risk to supply is reduced traffic flow at the short straits crossing (i.e. between Calais and Dover or Folkestone), which is where the majority of medicines and other medical products imported from the EU/European Economic Area (EEA) come from. Many companies across all sectors, have already taken measures to protect their own supply chain to avoid the possible delays at the Dover Straits. The Department for Transport has also procured additional ‘roll on roll off’ freight capacity equivalent of around an extra 2,200 heavy goods vehicle per week to help companies in importing medicines and medical products into the UK. The Government recognises the vital importance of medicines and medical products, including insulin, and is working to ensure that there is sufficient roll-on, roll-off freight capacity to enable these vital products to continue to move freely in to the UK. The Government has agreed that medicines and medical products will be prioritised on these alternative routes to ensure that the flow of all these products will continue unimpeded after 29 March 2019. In August 2018, the Department asked suppliers to confirm arrangements in respect of prescription-only and pharmacy medicines that come from or via the EU/EEEA. Company responses have provided the Department with an indication of industry’s ability and preparedness to stockpile six weeks’ worth of additional supply of each of the in-scope medicines in the UK ahead of 29 March 2019. Since then, we have continued to receive very good engagement and are working closely with industry on a product-by-product basis. Companies share our aims of ensuring continuity of medicines supply for patients is maintained and able to cope with any potential delays at the border that may arise in the short term in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit.

Obesity: Children

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has put in place a target for the national average rate of childhood obesity by the end of the current Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: We have not set a target to reduce the national average rate of childhood obesity by the end of the current Parliament. Chapter two of our world-leading childhood obesity plan, published in June 2018, sets a bold ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030 and significantly reduce the gap in obesity between children from the most and least deprived areas by 2030. We have reiterated this ambition in our vision document ‘Prevention is better than cure’ published on 5 November 2018, and in the ‘NHS Long Term Plan’ published on 8 January 2019. ‘Childhood obesity: a plan for action, chapter 2’ is available at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action-chapter-2

Influenza: Vaccination

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made a comparative assessment of the level of up-take of the winter flu jab in 2018 among people in (a) lower and (b) higher income groups.

Steve Brine: Public Health England does not hold the requested data in this format.

Prime Minister

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister, whether she raised the conflict in Yemen with her Saudi Arabian counterpart at the EU-Arab Summit in Sharm El Sheikh on 24-25 February 2019.

Mrs Theresa May: I refer the Rt Hon. Gentleman to the press release issued on 25 February 2019 following the meeting between the EU and the League of Arab States.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money has accrued to the public purse as a result of the benefits freeze in (a) each parliamentary constituency (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland.

Justin Tomlinson: An estimate of the notional loss to household income as a result of the benefit freeze can be found at: https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006C.pdf No assessment has been made of this saving by parliamentary constituency or country.

Bereavement Support Payment

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will provide an update on the Government's plans to reform bereavement support payments.

Justin Tomlinson: Bereavement Benefits were reformed in April 2017, with the introduction of Bereavement Support Payment. We confirm that we intend to evaluate its impact once there has been enough time for the reforms to fully bed in.

Employment: Autism

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,  whether she plans to introduce a central employment forum for people on the Autistic Spectrum, to match skill sets and employer needs.

Sarah Newton: We have no plans to introduce a central employment forum for people on the Autistic Spectrum. However, Disability Confident employers who use the Find a Job service to advertise jobs can now add a searchable Disability Confident tag to their vacancies. This allows disabled people to find Disability Confident employers who are offering jobs that match their skills. Over 10,500 employers have signed up to Disability Confident, and their number continues to grow. Overall, improving employment opportunities for people with learning difficulties, including those on the Autism Spectrum, disability is a Government priority. We take a life course approach, working with other Departments to tackle barriers to employment that start early in life. For example:DWP is exploring ways to improve our support to this group through a Local Supported Employment proof of concept, which is being tested in nine local authorities.The new Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme, which is rolling out this year, will provide highly personalised packages of employment support for people who are at least a year away from moving into work, including those with the Autism Spectrum Disorder. We are also running a number of local initiatives in jobcentres, such as:Calm and Quiet sessions in North London, where autistic people and their family members or carers have an opportunity to discuss with trained staff opportunities to move into or towards employment.In Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, we have contracted with two local organisations to provide 40 places each to support autistic people in developing employment skills, giving careers advice based on local demographics and the individual's employment expectations.

Employment and Support Allowance: Arrears

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many next of kin of the estimated 20,000 deceased disabled people who did not receive their full employment and support allowance entitlement due to errors by her Department have been contacted; how many of those next of kin have received a backpayment; and what the average backpayment has been.

Sarah Newton: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment and Support Allowance: Arrears

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister of State on 25 February 2019, Official Report, column 33, when her Department plans to reach the target of Presenting Officers attending 50 per cent of tribunals; what lessons her Department have learned from Presenting Officers attending tribunals in the last 12 months; and what changes to the assessment and decision-making process she has made as a result of those lessons learned.

Sarah Newton: Presenting Officers (POs) represent the Secretary of State at ESA and PIP tribunals and support them in understanding the detail of the case making the right decision. POs are in the main used where: a) the Department is directed by the tribunal judge; and b) asked to attend by a DWP Appeals Writer because the appeal relates to a complex area of the law. Around 150 POs have been recruited with further recruitment planned to enable increased attendance. The feedback they provide for the Department’s Decision Makers and the Assessment Providers, is an important element of the improvement work being done to increase the overall quality of the decisions made. Examples of feedback include how we present information to the Tribunal in the most effective way and ensuring attention is drawn to new evidence that arrives after the appeal has been lodged. . The Department continues to monitor and review how the feedback is collected and shared – it is used in team talks, bulletins and workshops; and the impact it is having on the quality of decisions made.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2019 to Question 223480 on Social Security Benefits: Fraud, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of recording that additional data.

Justin Tomlinson: To provide a costing for adding this functionality the Department would need to analyse this change in more detail, assess the amount of effort required to develop and test it, review the priority against other work that is already committed to, and assess any potential impact it could have on current operational procedures. This assessment process is resource intensive; therefore the Department cannot justify the use of this resource as there is no business reason to add this functionality.

Universal Credit: Disqualification

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2019 to Question 216934, on Universal Credit: Disqualification, how many universal credit claimants have been sanctioned for refusing to accept the offer of a job with a zero hours contract.

Alok Sharma: The information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people her Department has helped through its Universal Support Assisted Digital Service.

Alok Sharma: For the last completed financial year, 2017/18, the total number of claimants helped through Universal Support Assisted Digital Support by Local Authorities was 55,941. This figure is derived from the quarterly returns submitted by Local Authorities as part of the funding arrangement. These figures provided by Local Authorities do not include the large numbers of people helped daily with digital support by Jobcentres, and other organisations, which are unrecorded.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what funding has been allocated to the Help to Claim Scheme.

Alok Sharma: The Department is providing £51 million (which includes £12 million to set up delivery in the run-up to April 2019) of funding to Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver the Help to Claim service from April 2019. This was announced by the Government, Citizen’s Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland and Government on 1 October 2018.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to what extent auditors of health assessment reports on claimants of personal independence payment are independent from her Department.

Sarah Newton: Auditors of health assessment reports on claimants of Personal Independence Payment are not independent of DWP; they are independent of the Assessment Providers. The DWP independent audit function, which was rolled out across the contracts in 2016, is used to judge how the providers are performing against set quality targets to ensure that the advice provided to the Department’s decision makers is of suitable quality, fully explained and justified.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the guidance provided to her Department's decision makers on the management of benefit entitlements for EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status.

Alok Sharma: EU citizens and their family members with settled status or pre-settled status will have the same access as they currently do to healthcare, pensions and other benefits in the UK. Guidance for decision makers can be found in the Decision Makers’ Guide (DMG) and Advice for Decision Making Guide (ADM) available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/decision-makers-guide-staff-guide and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-for-decision-making-staff-guide. Departmental guidance is supplemented with updates when legal and procedural changes are introduced.

Universal Credit: Homelessness

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department provides to help homeless applicants make a claim for universal credit.

Justin Tomlinson: DWP is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants, including the most vulnerable in society. We are continuously reviewing and improving the service for vulnerable people to ensure that it is accessible and responsive to their needs. Universal Credit has been designed with accessibility in mind and we are committed to providing personalised support for all claimants. Where a homeless claimant requires assistance to complete the initial application process support is available face to face in the Jobcentre. Service delivery teams within jobcentres provide a professional and supportive environment for our customers, providing digital coaching and helping claimants set up and maintain their Universal Credit claims. If a claimant needs more intensive or specific support to make their claim, face-to-face and other help is available through our current Universal Support Assisted Digital Service offer, which provides bespoke help, support and skills for claimants to make and maintain their digital account online. Since 2017, Universal Support has been delivered by local authorities, funded by grants from DWP. From 1 April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland will deliver a new “Help to Claim” service to support vulnerable claimants through the process of making a claim to Universal Credit. Jobcentres in England refer claimants considered to be homeless or at risk of homelessness, to the local authority to receive further housing support. The referral is voluntary and there is no impact on the claimants Universal Credit award if they do not consent to the referral being made. Additional safeguards in place and support available to assist homeless people in making a claim for Universal Credit include: If a person doesn’t have a fixed address, they can register their hostel or temporary accommodation as their address, and if they are sleeping rough they can use the address of their local jobcentre.A work coach can use other methods to identify a person where someone does not have ID, including the use of biographical questions and third party biographical verification.Measures are in place to make payments through other methods where someone doesn’t have a bank account, including post office card accounts or the Payment Exception Service. Work coaches can also help people through the process of setting up a bank account where appropriate.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants have benefited from the provisions under section 119 (3) (a) and (b) of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 that hardship payments cease to be recoverable in the event that such claimants have earnings above the thresholds specified in those regulations in each month since August 2015.

Alok Sharma: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur a disproportionate cost.

Jobcentre Plus: Autism

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training has been provided to Jobcentre Plus staff in the (a) UK and (b) Easington Constituency to support (i) people with autism and (ii) family carers looking after a child with autism to ensure they can access all necessary services.

Sarah Newton: DWP is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants, including the most vulnerable in society. We are continuously reviewing and improving the service for vulnerable people to ensure that it is accessible and responsive to their needs.Work coaches undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service to all claimants. Specific training and guidance is provided for working with different vulnerable groups and those with complex needs including claimants with Autistic Spectrum Conditions.In addition, Work Coaches are supported by Disability Employment Advisers (DEA) who work in partnership with Work Psychologists to improve the capability of all Work Coaches to better support claimants with disabilities. DEAs based at Jobcentres within the Easington constituency undergo additional training through the North East Autism Society.Nationally, there is a range of support available for young people with autism, including:•The Work and Health Programme, which offers a personalised local approach to supporting people, overcome barriers to employment, by targeting specialist support to those who are likely to be able to find work within 12 months.•Access to Work, which has a Hidden Impairment Specialist Team offers advice and guidance to help employers support employees with conditions such as Autism, Learning Disability and/or Mental Health conditions.•Young people who start a work placement with an employer as part of the Department for Education supported internship programme or a traineeship are eligible to apply for Access to Work support for the period of the work placement. Supported internships are for young people aged 16—24 with learning difficulties or learning disabilities, who want to get a job and need extra support to do this.•The Disability Confident scheme, through which DWP is engaging with employers and helping to promote the skills, talents and abilities of people with autism and associated conditions. Over 10,000 businesses have signed up to Disability Confident since it was launched in November 2016.•The Disability Passport ‘About Me’, developed to encourage disabled claimants, including individuals with autism, to disclose their disability/ health conditions at the earliest stage to their Adviser, to improve communication and ensure reasonable adjustments are put in place. The passport was launched in March 2017 and is hosted on Autism Alliance’s website•The Local Supported Employment Proof of Concept, which is being delivered with nine local authorities and will support those with a learning disability or autism who are known to adult social care, or those in contact with secondary mental health services.We are also improving access to apprenticeships for people with learning disabilities and difficulties. For example, the government has introduced legislation which adjusts the minimum English and Maths requirements for apprenticeships for people with a learning difficulty or disability to entry Level 3. This change allows more people to benefit from the opportunities available through apprenticeships and work.

Universal Credit

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of bringing forward the increase of the maximum period for recovery of universal credit advance payments from 12 to 16 months, currently scheduled for October 2021.

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the new minimum rate of monthly deductions towards repayment of universal credit advance payments will be as a proportion of a claimant’s standard allowance once the maximum repayment period has been extended to 16 months, as scheduled for October 2021.

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department have carried out impact assessments on the requirement for universal credit advance payments to be repaid at a minimum rate of 10 per cent of the standard allowance.

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a means-tested income and expenditure assessment in respect of deductions from universal credit for the recovery of advance payments to ensure that repayment rates are based on a claimant's ability to pay.

Alok Sharma: Universal Credit new claim advances are made on account of a claimant’s expected future Universal Credit entitlement. They are available to those who cannot wait until their first Universal Credit payment is due, in order to provide extra financial support for those who need it most. Because this payment is an advance of entitlement, this is recovered over time. It was announced at Autumn Budget 2018 that there would be an increase to the maximum recovery period for Universal Credit advances from 12 to 16 months from October 2021. There is no minimum recovery rate for Universal Credit advances. The rate deducted from a claimant’s Universal Credit is generally determined by the amount of their entitlement advance divided by the number of monthly assessment periods which they choose at the outset for the advanced amount to be recovered from. This is subject to an overall maximum rate of 40 per cent of the claimant’s standard allowance. As a result of the change introduced in the 2018 Autumn Budget, from October 2019 this maximum will reduce to 30 per cent of the claimant’s standard allowance.During the recovery of the advance, exceptional circumstances may occur that were not foreseen when the advance was taken out. For example, hospital visits resulting in unexpected and regular bus/taxi fares. If these circumstances push the claimant into genuine hardship resulting in difficulty repaying the advance over the agreed recovery time, a maximum 3-month deferral can be considered.

Universal Credit: Vulnerable Adults

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the need for reasonable adjustments for vulnerable universal credit claimants, who cannot read or write, to have access to alternative means of communication with their work coach other than through the online journal.

Sarah Newton: The Department is committed to providing personalised support for all claimants, including those who cannot read or write. Each individual’s circumstances are different and therefore the support that we provide must be tailored to these individual needs.Claimants who cannot communicate through their online journal can access face-to-face assistance via their Jobcentre. Further support is also available via our free phone Universal Credit helpline to help them maintain their claim.In certain circumstances, where a claimant is unable to manage their own affairs, an appointee can act on their behalf, taking responsibility for making and maintaining any benefit claim. An appointee can be an individual, e.g. a friend or relative, an organisation or representative of an organisation, e.g. a solicitor or local council. The process for enlisting a DWP appointee includes a visit to the claimant and an interview with the potential appointee.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Attorney General on the legal implications of the judicial review into complaints in relation to the equalisation of state pension age on the handling of complaints by (a) her Department, (b) the Independent Case Examiner and  (c) the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Guy Opperman: Since WW2 and beyond, it is a longstanding convention observed by successive governments that neither the fact that the Law Officers have (or have not) advised nor the content of their advice is disclosed outside government without their authority, which is rarely sought or given. This is also set out in Erskine May, and as a result it is not appropriate to comment on live litigation.

Bereavement Support Payment

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department notifies surviving spouses about their entitlement to Bereavement Support Payment as a matter of routine; and how long after the death of a husband, wife or civil partner such notification is issued.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department does not notify surviving spouses or civil partners about any possible entitlement to Bereavement Support Payment as a matter of routine. However, information is available which aims to ensure people are aware of any benefits to which they may be entitled and how to claim them. The way information is made available about bereavement benefits is under constant review to try to ensure bereaved people know about their possible right to benefit. As well as traditional sources of information (such as leaflets), we have worked with funeral directors, Registrars and voluntary groups to try to ensure people are fully informed of the action to take following the loss of a husband, wife or civil partner.

Bereavement Support Payment

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the take-up rate for Bereavement Support Payment in each of the last five years.

Justin Tomlinson: Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) was introduced in April 2017, to replace Widowed Parent’s Allowance, Bereavement Allowance and Bereavement Payments. To date no assessment of the take up rate of BSP has been made.

Bereavement Support Payment

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have received their full entitlement to Bereavement Support Payment in each of the last five years; and how many people have received a reduced entitlement to that payment due to a late application.

Justin Tomlinson: Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) was introduced in April 2017, to replace Widowed Parent’s Allowance, Bereavement Allowance and Bereavement Payments. As such we can only provide figures from April 2017 to June 2018 as this is the latest available information that we hold Bereavement Support Payment statistics can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dwp-benefits-statistical-summaries-2018 The information requested on reduced entitlement to a payment due to a late application is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Children: Maintenance

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any records pertaining to the historical arrears-only cases from the 1993 and 2003 Child Maintenance Schemes been destroyed, deleted or removed from the Child Maintenance Service since the Child Maintenance (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018 came into force on 14 December 2018.

Justin Tomlinson: There have been no records destroyed, deleted or removed from the Child Maintenance Service since the Child Maintenance (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018 came into force on 14 December 2018.

Children: Maintenance

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much in arrears accrued under the historical arrears-only cases from the 1993 and 2003 Child Maintenance Schemes has been written-off since the Child Maintenance (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018 came into force on 14 December 2018.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many historical arrears-only cases from the 1993 and 2003 Child Maintenance Schemes have been closed since the Child Maintenance (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018 came into force on 14 December 2018.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department routinely publishes information on the 1993 and 2003 Child Maintenance schemes in the CSA Quarterly Summary of Statistics, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-statistics--2. The next CSA Quarterly Summary of Statistics is due to be released in May. This will include statistics on the amount of historical arrears written off and the number of cases closed since the Child Maintenance (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018 came into force.

Home Office

Immigration: Equality

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessments are undertaken to ensure that decisions to classify immigration cases as complex comply with the Equality Act 2010.

Caroline Nokes: Where an application is defined as non-straightforward due to complexity, the customer will be written to within the normal processing time to explain why it will not be decided within the normal standard, and to explain what will happen next.All leave to remain applications that seek to rely upon Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and applications outside of the rules are deemed non-straightforward (or ‘complex’). On the introduction of the current Article 8 rules (Appendix FM), in July 2012, a Policy Equality Statement was published demonstrating how these rules complied with the Equality Act 2010.

Home Office: Written Questions

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to respond to Question 193518 of 20 November 2018 tabled by the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey.

Caroline Nokes: The response for UIN 193518 was given on the 4th March 2019.

National Crime Agency: Holiday Leave

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2019 to Question 221553 on National Crime Agency: Brexit, since what date has leave for the month of April 2019 for staff of the National Crime Agency no longer been authorised.

Mr Ben Wallace: The date from which leave for the month of April 2019 for staff of the National Crime Agency was no longer authorised was 14 January 2019

Sexual Offences: Prosecutions

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans his Department has to improve evidence gathering and ensure that the Crown Prosecution Service receives actionable evidence in cases of historic childhood sexual abuse.

Victoria Atkins: We recognise the need for the police to have appropriate resources in place to manage complex child sexual abuse investigations. We have prioritised child sexual abuse as a national threat to empower police forces to maximise their specialist skills and expertise, and have invested significantly in transforming the police response to child sexual abuse through the Police Transformation Fund.Operation Hydrant was established to co-ordinate efforts across policing to respond to the increasing volume of non-recent child sexual abuse cases being reported. We have supported Operation Hydrant with £11.8m of po-lice Special Grant funding to date. Additionally, the College of Policing has developed bespoke guidance to senior investigating officers managing non-recent investigations.

Asylum: Housing

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers live in (a) National Asylum Support Service accommodation and (b) other accommodation.

Caroline Nokes: The number of asylum seekers and those supported asylum seekers living in asylum accommodation are part of published statistics and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-september-2018/list-of-tables

Asylum: Applications

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average length of time that an applicant for asylum has to wait for a decision.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not publish data relating to the average length of time an applicant for asylum has to wait for a decision but does publish data on the percentage of asylum applications processed within the previous service standard to decide 98% of straight forward asylum claims within 6 months of the date of claim.Data on performance against the current published service standard can be found on tabs Asy_10 and Asy_11 of the Asylum Transparency Data November 2018 at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-november-2018In the November release of the transparency data, the Home Office are still reporting performance against our previous service standard to decide all straight forward asylum cases within 6 months of the date of claim. The next release of transparency data, scheduled for 28 February 2019, will still contain data on performance and will be labelled under the title of percentage of cases decided within 6 months rather than explicitly referring to the service standard.

Immigration: EU Nationals

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2019 to Question 213222, whether dual Irish/EU nationals who are also British citizens are eligible to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Caroline Nokes: British citizens, including those with dual British/Irish or British/EU citizenship, are not eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. This is because, under Section 1(1) of the Immigration Act 1971, those with a right of abode in the UK (including all British citizens) cannot be granted immigration status.

Home Office: Procurement

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the guidance entitled, Procurement policy note 03/14: measures to promote tax compliance, published on 6 February 2014, how many suppliers were allocated contracts by his Department as a result of complying with (a) one and (b) more than one of the mitigating circumstances after not meeting the tax compliance questions.

Victoria Atkins: The information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. To obtain the information a manual search through individual records would be required as this is not recorded on our systems.

Traffic Officers

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the total number of traffic officers in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the UK in each year since 2010.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects and publishes data annually on the primary function of police officers, broken down by Police Force Area, as part of the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins, which can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales .These data include officers whose primary function is “Road Policing”, and officers with multiple responsibilities are recorded under their primary function.Data are collected from forces in England and Wales, and at Police Force Area level only, therefore information on the number of traffic officers in Coventry is not available, neither is the number of traffic officers for the UK.

Police Pursuits

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to publish the results of his Department's consultation on police pursuits; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government fully recognises the difficult job that police drivers do every day to keep road users and the wider public safe. That is why we have worked closely with the Federation, other government departments and groups representing road users and those advocating road safety to review the law, guidance, procedures and processes surrounding police pursuits. We will shortly announce the next steps following the consultation.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the planned locations are for the ID Document scanners for the EU citizens settlement scheme for users unable to access an Android phone in Wales.

Caroline Nokes: The application process for the EU Settlement Scheme is straightforward and user-friendly, and it is accessible on any smartphone, tablet or computer using internet browsers.The ‘EU Exit: Identity Document Check’ app – which allows applicants to prove their identity remotely, without sending in their passport or national identity card – is publicly available in the Google Play Store.Applicants who do not have access to a device with a compatible operating system can, if they wish, use a family member or friend’s compatible Android device to access the app, and complete the rest of the process on their own device.Additionally, we currently have 13 locations across the UK where applicants can have their identity document scanned and verified, if they choose to do so. During the public test phase for the scheme, there has been an identity document scanning location in Caerphilly. We are working with local government bodies across the UK to increase the provision of this service by local authorities.This is an entirely voluntary test phase and once the EU Settlement Scheme is fully open by 30 March, the app will be optional. Applicants will be able to post their identity document to the Home Office to be checked and returned quickly. There will also be over 50 locations across the UK where applicants can have their identity document scanned and verified to provide further options for applicants.

Identification of Criminals: Biometrics

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces in England and Wales were using facial recognition software as of January 2019.

Mr Nick Hurd: Facial recognition software takes two main forms. The first compares an image of an unknown person (for example caught on CCTV committing a crime, reviewed after the event) against a database of facial images of people who have been arrested. All police forces use the Police National Database facial search facility.  The second form is live facial recognition (LFR), which compares images of passers-by taken from live cameras with images on a watch list (a database of suspects). The Metropolitan Police Service and South Wales Police are piloting LFR. The pilots are important to test this technology, which has the potential to improve public safety. Both forces have commissioned independent reviews of the pilots.The Law Enforcement Facial Images and New Biometric Modalities Oversight and Advisory Board oversees the police use of LFR, the retention of custody images, and emerging new biometrics. The Board’s minutes are published on GOV.UK

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of (a) vessels and (b) personnel patrolling the English Channel in relation to people attempting to enter the country illegally.

Caroline Nokes: During 2018, over 500 migrants - mostly Iranian - attempted to travel to the UK on small vessels. 80% of them attempted this in the last three months of the year.As a result, the Home Secretary redeployed two Border Force cutters from overseas to the UK providing four cutters available to operate in channel UK waters. In addition to the four cutters, Border Force has two Coastal Patrol Vessels on operation in the English Channel.However, this is not an issue that can be resolved by maritime resources alone. Border Force Cutters form part of a layered approach to coastal defence, including on-shore resources and intelligence and surveillance to detect efforts to smuggle guns and drugs or facilitate illegal entry into the country.But we haven’t been doing this work alone. We have been working closely with French authorities to tackle this issue. Around 40% of the attempts last year were either disrupted by French law enforcement or returned to France via French agencies.Through these efforts, we reduced the number of individuals attempting the crossing from around 250 in December to around 90 in both January and February.

Northern Ireland Office

Brexit: Northern Ireland

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the effect on rights under the Good Friday Agreement of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Karen Bradley: The Government is firmly committed to the Belfast Agreement, its successor agreements, the constitutional principles it upholds, the institutions established, and the rights it protects. Leaving the EU, regardless of the terms of our departure, does not change this position.

Treasury

Private Rented Housing: Rents

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the most recent calculations of average rents for two bedroom homes in each of the 152 Broad Rental Market Areas that have been used to calculate local rental market statistics, including the Local Housing Allowance.

Elizabeth Truss: In February 2019, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) published the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates that will go live from 1 April 2019. From April this year, VOA will also publish the full List of Rents which underlie LHA rates.

Company Cars: Taxation

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of grey fleet vehicles that (a) are in use and (b) will be in use after the introduction of Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure for tax purposes in April 2020.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential financial effect of the introduction of the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure on company car drivers.

Robert Jenrick: As the Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) aims to replicate real-world driving conditions more closely, it is expected that reported CO2 values will increase. Through the review of WLTP and vehicle taxes, the government has engaged with stakeholders to determine the impact on tax liabilities and the UK’s environmental objectives, including the role of company cars in reducing CO2 emissions from road transport. The review closed on 17 February and the responses are currently being analysed. The government has committed to publishing a response in the spring.

Public Works Loan Board

Chris Philp: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many loans were made by the Public Works Loan Board to local authorities; on what dates the loans were made; and what the (a) value and (b) purpose was of each loan.

Elizabeth Truss: The UK Debt Management Office publishes on its website information on loans advanced by Public Works Loan Board on a monthly basis. This information is publicly available for all loans since 1 October 2010 and covers the amount advanced for each loan, the interest rate, the term and the repayment type of the loan. This information is available at https://www.dmo.gov.uk/responsibilities/local-authority-lending-pwlb/monthly-loans-report/. Under the prudential regime, decisions on borrowing are devolved to local authorities who are democratically accountable to their electorates. Information about the purpose of Public Works Loan Board loans is not centrally held.

Beverage Containers: Taxation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 3.59 of the Budget 2018 Red Book, what the evidential basis was for his Department concluding that a levy on all cups would not at this time be effective in encouraging widespread reuse; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Jenrick: The Government recognises the problems caused by disposable cups, which are difficult to recycle and often littered. At Budget 2018, the Government concluded that a levy on all cups would not at this point deliver a decisive shift from disposable cups to reusable cups across all beverage types. This conclusion is based on the submissions made to the government during the call for evidence on single use plastic waste and examining alternatives to current single-use cups containing plastic. The Government expects industry to go further in taking action on disposable plastic cups and will return to the issue if sufficient progress is not made. The Government is also considering the case for reducing the environment impact of disposable cups within a reformed Packaging Producer Responsibility system and a potential Deposit Return Scheme.

Tax Avoidance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of HMRC's (a) powers and (b) resources to investigate tax-avoidance enablers.

Mel Stride: The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee recently made recommendations on HMRC’s powers and resourcing (House of Lords Paper 242 - The Powers of HMRC: Treating Taxpayers Fairly). The Government considered these points and responded on 22 January 2019. This is available from:https://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-committees/economic-affairs/Govt%20HMRC%20Powers%20report%2022%20Jan%202019%20.pdf As detailed in the response, the Government keeps the tax system under review and notes the Committee's recommendation to update the powers review principles for the digital age. HMRC will consider options for reviewing and updating the tax administration framework, to ensure that it is effective in underpinning modern tax administration. HMRC already has dedicated teams resourced to tackle those who promote or enable tax avoidance.

Employers' Contributions

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing employer contributions to public pensions from 2020-21 in the next Spending Review.

Elizabeth Truss: Employer contributions in the unfunded public service pension schemes are set following quadrennial valuations. The current valuations, which assess the schemes as at 31 March 2016, are in the process of being finalised. As I announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 6 September 2018, these valuations indicate employers need to pay more towards the schemes because of changes to the Office for Budget Responsibility’s long-term GDP growth forecasts, reflected in the SCAPE discount rate. The new employer contribution rates will take effect in 2019 and will apply for a 4-year period.

Cash Dispensing

Ged Killen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Bank of England, (b) Financial Conduct Authority and (c) Payment Systems Regulator on the availability of access to cash through (i) ATMs and (ii) other means.

Ged Killen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will include in the statutory objectives of the Payment Systems Regulator powers to protect access to cash; and if he will make a statement.

Ged Killen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions the Government has had with the Payment Systems Regulator on its review of cash infrastructure; and what the timeframe is for the publication of (a) further details on the review and (b) the review itself.

John Glen: The Government recognises that widespread free access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the regulators and industry, including both the Payment Systems Regulator and LINK (the scheme that runs the UK’s ATM network), on this topic. For example, last year we conducted a call for evidence on cash and digital payments in the new economy. This explored how the trend from cash to digital payments impacts on different sectors, different regions and different demographics. The Government will formally respond to the call for evidence in due course. The Government established the Payment Systems Regulator with a statutory duty to ensure that payment systems work well for those who use them. As part of this, the PSR regulates LINK and is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision. LINK has committed to maintain the broad geographical coverage of the ATM network in the UK. The PSR has used its powers to hold LINK to account over its commitments and to ensure LINK reports to it on a regular basis. Government also notes that LINK has commissioned an independent review (chaired by Natalie Ceeney) which is looking at long-term access to cash.

Credit: Interest Rates

Angela Crawley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the harm caused by high interest payday loans.

John Glen: On 1 April 2014, regulation of the consumer credit market, including payday lenders, was transferred to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The government has given the FCA strong powers to protect consumers and to take action against firms and individuals that do not meet its standards. The government legislated to require the FCA to introduce a cap on the cost of payday loans, which came into force on 2 January 2015. The FCA published a feedback statement in July 2017, showing that the price cap has been effective, leading to savings of approximately £150 million for 760,000 individuals using payday loans each year. At Autumn Budget 2018 the Government announced a package of measures to help low income consumers access safe, affordable and sustainable credit.

Credit: Interest Rates

Angela Crawley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many fines the Financial Conduct Authority has issued against payday lenders in the past year.

John Glen: On 1 April 2014, regulation of the consumer credit market, including high-cost credit, was transferred to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We have passed the Honourable Members question on to the FCA, who will reply directly by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Tax Evasion: Prosecutions

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cases HMRC has referred to the CPS in each year since 2010.

Mel Stride: The table below shows the number of cases HMRC has referred to the CPS in each year since 2010. HMRC do not refer operations for prosecution, we refer individuals within operations for prosecution, in this instance, the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service- prosecuting authority for England and Wales). FYNUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO CPS2010/11No split available2011/12No split available2012/138342013/149772014/151,4372015/161,1622016/171,2032017/181,066TOTAL6,679 With regards to prosecutions in Scotland and Northern Ireland HMRC refers cases to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Public Prosecution Service, Northern Ireland respectively.

Taxation: Tribunals

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax tribunal cases HMRC has lost in each year since 2010.

Mel Stride: HMRC has lost the following tax tribunal cases in each year since 2010 First-tier Tribunal YearNumber of Tribunal DecisionsTribunal Decisions in Customer Favour2010-1111352382011-1213954432012-1314332372013-1425504432014-1513031692015-1610411872016-1711301842017-181996442 Upper Tribunal YearNumber of Tribunal DecisionsTribunal Decisions in Customer Favour2010-11Data not heldData not held2011-12Data not heldData not held2012-135282013-1473242014-1578232015-1673162016-1778132017-187720

Revenue and Customs: Unpaid Fines

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HMRC has been owed in unpaid penalties in each year since 2010.

Mel Stride: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Data on unpaid penalties owed to HMRC are not readily available. HMRC does not produce figures on unpaid penalties for all heads of duty where a penalty charge would apply.

Tax Collection

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the contribution to the public purse from the work of the HMRC specialist unit for collecting tax from high net worth individuals in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014, (f) 2015, (g) 2016, (h) 2017, and (i) 2018.

Mel Stride: As of 3rd April 2017, HMRC has brought together the High Net Worth Unit and Affluent teams to form a single Wealthy team. The figures below are the personal tax paid by high net worth individuals (income tax, national insurance and capital gains tax). YearEstimated tax receipts2009 - 10£5.10bn2010 - 11£3.7bn2011 - 12£3.79bn2012 - 13£3.13bn2013 - 14£4.79bn2014 - 15£4.34bn2015-16£4.3bn

Tax Avoidance

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many high net worth individuals HMRC investigated in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014, (f) 2015, (g) 2016, (h) 2017 and (i) 2018.

Mel Stride: As of 3rd April 2017, HMRC has brought together the High Net Worth Unit and Affluent teams to form a single Wealthy team.  The National Audit Office’s report on “collecting tax from high net worth individuals” advised that as of 2015-16 there were 6,500 high net worth individuals. It reported around a third of the High Net Worth Unit’s customers were subject to an enquiry at the time of the report.

Tax Avoidance

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2019 to Question 221022 on Tax Avoidance, whether it has always been HMRC's policy that nobody would be forced to sell their main home to pay for their Disguised Remuneration debt.

Mel Stride: As advised by HMRC officials at the Treasury Select Committee on 30 January 2019 it is not HMRC’s policy to force the sale of a main residence in relation to a Disguised Remuneration (DR) debt, or the loan charge. Since the announcement of the 2019 loan charge at Budget 2016, HMRC has now agreed settlements on disguised remuneration schemes with employers and individuals totalling over £1 billion. Pay As You Earn (PAYE) liabilities fall on the employer in the first instance. The charge on DR loans does not change this principle and the employee will only be liable where the amount cannot reasonably be collected from the employer, such as where the employer is offshore or no longer exists. Around 85% of the settlement yield since 2016 is from employers, with less than 15% from individuals. HMRC is working hard to help individuals get out of avoidance for good and offer manageable and sustainable payment plans wherever possible. It carefully considers each case and there is no maximum limit on how long a customer can be given to pay what they owe. HMRC considers a customer’s ability to pay on a case by case basis and decisions are based on each individual’s personal circumstances. HMRC has simplified the process for those who want to settle their use of DR schemes before the loan charge arises. DR scheme users who currently have an income of less than £50,000 and are no longer engaging in tax avoidance can automatically agree a payment plan of up to five years without the need to give HMRC detailed information about their income and assets. This arrangement has been extended to 7 years for scheme users who have an income of less than £30,000.

Treasury: Procurement

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the guidance entitled, Procurement policy note 03/14: measures to promote tax compliance, published on 6 February 2014, how many suppliers were allocated contracts by his Department as a result of complying with (a) one and (b) more than one of the mitigating circumstances after not meeting the tax compliance questions.

Robert Jenrick: The information is not held centrally.

Taxation: Tribunals

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax tribunal appeals failed in each year since 2010.

Mel Stride: The table below shows cases where the customers’ appeal to the tribunal has been unsuccessful for each year since 2010. First-tier Tribunal YearNumber of Tribunal DecisionsTribunal Decisions where the customer has been unsuccessful2010-1111358342011-1213958552012-13143310952013-14255019432014-15130310502015-1610417822016-1711308672017-1819661420 Upper Tribunal YearNumber of Tribunal DecisionsTribunal Decisions where the customer has been unsuccessful2010-11Data Not Held2011-12Data Not Held2012-1352432013-1473462014-1578542015-1673552016-1778622017-187755  The table below shows the outcome of stood over cases where the customers’ appeal has been unsuccessful for each year since 2010. This is where the customer has agreed to put the appeal on hold waiting for a decision in a related case that is being litigated. These cases are not heard by the tribunal.  YearNumber of Follower Cases SettledTribunal Decisions where the customer has been unsuccessful2010-1148302011-12100472012-134613442013-146826132014-153312872015-16143112092016-17201515992017-1850704426

Tax Avoidance

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cases of historical tax avoidance HMRC has outstanding.

Mel Stride: The Government is committed to tackling tax avoidance and ensuring that everyone pays their fair share of tax to fund vital public services In 2013 HMRC set up a dedicated Counter Avoidance Directorate, bringing together technical, policy and operational expertise from across the Department into one place, in order to concentrate their focus on tackling marketed tax avoidance schemes. Since then over £8.7 billion has been brought in from accelerated payments and settling marketed avoidance cases. HMRC currently have around 80,000 users of tax avoidance schemes under review.

Multinational Companies: Taxation

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many companies with (a) assets over £2 billion or (b) a turnover of over £200 million have published their tax strategy.

Mel Stride: HMRC does not keep a central record that shows which companies with assets over £2 billion or a turnover of over £200 million have published their tax strategies.

Overseas Trade

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the amount of money that would accrue to the public purse annually as a result of tariffs on imports from non-EU countries after the UK leaves the EU.

Mel Stride: The amount of customs revenue collected from non-EU countries will be dependent on the rates of import duty set. In the event of “no deal” the Government will make an announcement, once a decision is finalised, and publish new UK duty rates, which will apply equally to all countries.

Community Housing Fund

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government on extending the Homes England Community Housing Fund to 2023; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: In July last year, Homes England re-launched the Community Housing Fund. Community groups and local authorities are now able to apply for capital and revenue funding to bring forward community-led housing schemes. Extending the Community Housing fund to March 2023 concerns budgets beyond 2019-20. Day-to-day departmental budgets for 2020-21 onwards have not yet been set and are a matter for the Spending Review, which will take place later this year.

Home Shopping: Taxation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a online sales tax.

Mel Stride: I recently discussed the merits of an online sales tax in evidence to a joint session of the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee and Treasury Select Committee, to inform an inquiry into High streets and town centres in 2030.This evidence is available at the following link: http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/housing-communities-and-local-government-committee/high-streets-and-town-centres-in-2030/oral/94442.pdf The government keeps all tax policy under review as part of the normal policy making process and will share any relevant announcements at the appropriate fiscal event.

Aviation

Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the of the effect of air passenger duty on (a) developing and (b) maintaining aviation routes to (i) priority and (ii) emerging markets.

Robert Jenrick: The government monitors all taxes, including Air Passenger Duty. The aviation sector in the UK is thriving, the UK has the third largest aviation network in the world and passenger numbers are up by over 20% since 2010. Further, this government has taken decisive action to support expansion at Heathrow, where the majority of our long-haul flights depart.

UK Asset Resolution

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria in terms of protection for long-term holders of former Northern Rock mortgages were established by UK Asset Resolution before conducting such sales.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria for the protection of mortgage holders he plans to direct UK Asset Resolution to use in its future sales of mortgages and loans.

John Glen: The Government and UK Asset Resolution (UKAR) take treating customers fairly very seriously. UKAR has always included non-negotiable customer protections as part of the legal documents in every sale, past and present. Bidders must accept these terms before their bids are considered on price. For past sales, these protections required that: the servicer of the mortgages is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); the terms and conditions of the mortgages are not changed; and purchasers abide by restrictions on how the Standard Variable Rate (SVR) can be set. The Government and UKAR have listened to stakeholders on the issue of customer protections and have enhanced the protections for current and future sales. New protections include: requiring that both the servicer and legal title holder are FCA-regulated; restrictions on setting SVRs for the lifetime of the mortgage; and no early repayment charges, should a customer wish to switch mortgages.

Northern: Standards

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the cost to the economy of the North West of delays and cancellations by Northern Rail.

Elizabeth Truss: I am sorry for the impact that delays and cancellations on Northern Rail have had on passengers in the North West. We want passengers to receive the services that they have every right to expect. That is why the Government’s focus has been on enabling a return to stability for passengers and ensuring that those affected are properly compensated for the disruption.

EU Budget: Contributions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the UK's financial contribution to the EU since 24 June 2016.

Elizabeth Truss: The EU annually publish a financial report, which details the levels of revenue and expenditure, received and executed by the EU, relative to Member States. Between 2016 and 2017, the UK has contributed €30 billion to the annual EU budget, and received €13 billion in receipts to both the public and private sector.Additionally, HM Treasury produce an annual European Finances Statement which details the UK’s contribution to the EU over the past year. While the OBR produce an independent forecast for annual contributions to the EU.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

D-Day Landings: Anniversaries

Heidi Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings this year.

Michael Ellis: I refer the Hon member to the answer to written question 224816, answered on 28th February.

Social Media: Disability

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the policies that social media companies employ to prevent the abuse of disabled people.

Margot James: DCMS hosted a Ministerial roundtable before Christmas with disability organisations to explore the issues faced by disabled people online and consult on the statutory social media code of practice. The forthcoming Online Harms White Paper will set out legislative measures to tackle the full range of online harms, including online abuse. We will continue to engage with the disabled community and other stakeholders as we develop our proposals.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of  25 February 2019 to Question 223803 on Voluntary Work: Young People, if the Government will publish the (a) annual and (b) completed participation figures for 2018 once they are confirmed.

Mims Davies: The Government will publish the annual and completed NCS 2018 participation figures on gov.uk once they are confirmed.

Third Sector

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to page 74 of the Government's August 2018 Civil Society Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to work with the Charity Commission and UK Community Foundations to release at least £20 million over the next two years from inactive charitable trusts to grassroots community organisations.

Mims Davies: Working in conjunction, DCMS, the Charity Commission, and UK Community Foundations have so far released £9.5 million through the Revitalising Trusts programme. This funding will support local good causes across the country. The programme is on track and we expect to release £10 million by the end of March 2019.

Third Sector

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to page 112 of the Government's August 2018 Civil Society Strategy, what steps he has taken to (a) develop new guidance for all commissioners on grantmaking to small and local charities and (b) update his guidance entitled Commissioning for social action.

Mims Davies: Since the Strategy was published, we have started to scope a programme of work around improving the use of grants. This has involved engagement with the Cabinet Office and with stakeholders. We will confirm more detailed plans in due course.

Leisure: Young People

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities in England and Wales that have been unable to meet their statutory duty to provide user-led recreational leisure activities for young people in each of the last eight years.

Mims Davies: My department is responsible for Section 507b of the 1996 Education Act that states that: “every local authority in England must, so far as reasonably practicable, secure for qualifying young persons in the authority’s area access to sufficient educational and recreational activities.” During the last eight years no one has sought to make the case to me or my Department that any local authority is in formal breach of this duty. The guidance, which sets out how this this statutory duty could be discharged, has not been revised since 2012 and in the Civil Society Strategy published last August we committed to review it. We will make a further announcement about our plans to do that in due course.

Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the target is for digital inclusion.

Margot James: The Government’s Digital Strategy, published in March 2017, sets out the Government’s approach to tackling digital exclusion. Our objective is to tackle the root causes of digital exclusion so that everyone can increase their digital capability to make the most of the digital world. We also committed to facilitating strong collaboration between the public, private and third sector to tackle the digital skills gap in a coordinated and coherent way so the sum is greater than the parts and everyone everywhere has better access to the training they want.

Cybercrime: Business

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many businesses have taken up the Cyber Essentials Scheme.

Margot James: As of the end of January 2019, the total number of Cyber Essentials certificates awarded to organisations was 23,097. The scheme was launched in 2014 and of this total, around a half of certificates (11,789) were awarded in 2018. 82% of the total number of certificates have been awarded to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs.)

Third Sector

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to page 16 of the Government's August 2018 Civil Society Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to work with Big Lottery Fund to use £55 million from dormant accounts to fund a new, independent organisation which will work with partners across the private and social sectors to tackle financial exclusion.

Mims Davies: Last year, the Government committed £55 million from dormant assets to tackle financial exclusion and problem debt. In the Civil Society Strategy, the government announced that this funding would be directed to a new, independent organisation, with a remit to address this social issue. This organisation was launched on 28th February 2019, with Richard Collier-Keywood appointed as its Founding Chair. The organisation has taken the name Fair4All Finance Limited.

Third Sector

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to page 113 of the Government's August 2018 Civil Society Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to explore the potential to use flexibilities in the law governing contracts (such as the Mutuals Reservation) to reserve some competitions to other social purpose vehicles.

Mims Davies: The Civil Society Strategy is the beginning of an ambitious, evolving work programme to help build a stronger society. The Strategy sets out a vision for government’s work with and for civil society over the next 10 years and beyond. We remain committed to exploring how potential flexibilities in the law governing contracts has the potential as an important tool in creating a more diverse supply of public services.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Brexit

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many officials from (a) his Department and (b) the Office for Civil Society have been moved from their normal duties to work on preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Jeremy Wright: I refer the Hon member to the answer given to PQ 218152 from 20th February.

Members: Correspondence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to respond to the letter of 14 January 2019 from the right hon. Member for North Norfolk on the security of the UK’s communications infrastructure.

Jeremy Wright: A response to the letter from the Hon Member will be sent shortly.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Connect Airways: Flybe

Alan Brown: To ask Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the treatment of shareholders by Flybe during the purchasing of its working assets by the Connect Airways consortium.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to assess the treatment of shareholders by Flybe during the purchasing of its working assets by the Connect Airways consortium.

Kelly Tolhurst: The treatment of shareholders of listed companies in the context of a takeover is regulated by the Takeover Code, overseen by the Takeover Panel. This is independent of Government.

Cosmetics

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department has made on creating a UK cosmetics portal as part of preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

Kelly Tolhurst: The UK’s new cosmetics database is being developed by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). OPSS have worked closely with cosmetics businesses in creating the database, which is currently undergoing testing with the sector. OPSS will continue to communicate with businesses, trade associations and other regulators regarding the steps businesses need to take for notification of new and existing products.

Cosmetics

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department is having with the cosmetics industry on implications for that industry of the UK leaving the EU.

Kelly Tolhurst: Officials have been working closely with the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) and individual businesses to help them prepare for the UK’s exit from the EU. This includes helping the CTPA prepare their guidance for the UK leaving the EU, including in the event of leaving without a deal, as well as attending industry events and engaging with individual businesses.

Cosmetics

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department is providing financial support to the cosmetics industry as part of preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

Kelly Tolhurst: Delivering a deal negotiated with the EU remains the Government’s top priority. However, officials have been working closely with the cosmetics industry to reduce the potential impact on them should the UK leave the EU without a deal, including providing for transitional arrangements for labelling changes and appropriate levels of notification for cosmetic products already on the market. There are no further plans to provide financial support to the cosmetics industry as part of the UK’s preparations for EU exit.

Minimum Wage: Non-payment

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reasons his Department has not published the names of the companies who have underpaid the national minimum wage since July 2018.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to publish the names of employers who have underpaid the national minimum wage since July 2018.

Kelly Tolhurst: Everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage should receive it and we will act where employers have been found to be in breach of the law. This Government continues to invest heavily in minimum wage enforcement, almost doubling the budget to £26.3 million for 2018/19, up from £13.2 million in 2015/16. Last year, the Director of Labour Market Enforcement recommended making changes to the scheme “to increase its compliance and deterrent effect.” Work has now begun on this to ensure the scheme continues to best fulfil this purpose.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Staff

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether any civil servants of his Department have been redeployed from work on national minimum wage enforcement to work on preparations for the UK leaving the EU.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Staff

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many staff in his Department are working on minimum wage enforcement.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Scottish Limited Partnerships: Ownership

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many Scottish limited partnerships have not registered a person of significant control.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Energy: Prices

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on consumer energy prices of the UK leaving the EU (a) with and (b) without a deal.

Claire Perry: The UK is seeking broad energy cooperation with the EU including arrangements for trade in electricity and gas, cooperation with EU Agencies and bodies, and data sharing to facilitate market operations. All these are designed to ensure continuity in terms of effects on consumer energy prices. In line with our continued commitment to ensuring that business is prepared for EU Exit in all scenarios, we set out the implications of no deal for UK energy in our technical notices on trading electricity and gas. In either scenario, the UK’s exit from the EU will not alter the fact that our energy system is resilient, secure and drawn from a number of sources. The UK will remain physically linked to the EU post-exit through interconnectors, and the UK gas market is one of the most liquid and developed markets in the world and provides security through diversity of supply, the majority of which does not depend on the EU.

Wonga: Complaints

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support previous customers of Wonga who have outstanding complaints against that company since it entered administration.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Conditions of Employment: EU Law

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what legislation will give effect to advances in EU employment rights being replicated in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Buildings: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2019 to Question 217589 on Buildings: Insulation and with reference to the Buildings Research Establishment interim report entitled Fire performance of cladding materials research – experimental methodology and performance criteria, what part of the methodology will enable the Government to determine whether samples are combustible.

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing's oral evidence to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on 28 January 2019 on the independent review of building regulations and to the Buildings Research Establishment's interim report entitled Fire performance of cladding materials research – experimental methodology and performance criteria, what measurements within the testing methodology his Department will use to assess whether particular types of cladding should be removed from buildings.

Kit Malthouse: At this stage the study is aimed at developing a better understanding of the behaviour of a range of cladding products when exposed to fire and their possible contribution to fire spread.The performance criteria and how they will be measured are highlighted in table 2 of the methodology. A copy of the methodology is available in the House library.The findings of the research will help determine, in consultation with the Independent Expert Panel, any further action we should take. This could include further testing at large scale and/or advice to building owners.My department published an advice note on external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material in December 2017 and updated it in December 2018. This advice makes clear to building owners that wall systems on existing buildings may only use materials that are of limited combustibility unless the system has achieved the appropriate BR135 classification via a BS 8414 test. It reiterates that the clearest way to ensure safety is to remove any unsafe materials.

Buildings: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Buildings Research Establishment interim report entitled Fire performance of cladding materials research – experimental methodology and performance criteria, how many meetings were held between his officials and representatives of the Buildings Research Establishment between 19 June 2018 and 26 February 2019; and if he will publish the dates of those meetings.

Kit Malthouse: Officials have been in regular contact (meetings, emails and phone conversations) with the Building Research Establishment between June 2018 and February 2019. The Department does not keep a record of all the exchanges between officials and the Building Research Establishment.

Buildings: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the value of the contract awarded by his Department to the Buildings Research Establishment was for research and testing of fire safety standards of non-ACM cladding.

Kit Malthouse: Since January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:https://ckan.publishing.service.gov.uk/dataset/contracts-finder-archive.Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.The Fire Performance of Cladding Materials Research contract can be found at the following address:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/88ccc1d7-608b-4631-957b-0e9490abf05d?p=@UFQxUlRRPT0=NjJNT08.

Buildings: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the interim report of the Building Research Establishment (BRE) for his Department entitled Fire Performance of Cladding Materials Research – Experimental methodology and performance criteria, whether the proposed methodology will enable his Department to confirm if the samples tested meet the criteria set out in building regulations guidance BR 135.

Kit Malthouse: The research on non- Aluminium Composite Material materials is based on a bespoke test. The classification criteria provided in Annex A and B of BR 135 are only applicable to tests carried out in accordance with BS 8414-1 and BS 8414-2 respectively. These are therefore not applicable to this bespoke methodology.The findings of the research will help determine, in consultation with the Independent Expert Panel, any further action we should take. This could include further testing at large scale.

Housing: Construction

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what monitoring takes place to ensure that local authorities are fulfilling their duties in ensuring that new buildings are compliant with building regulations.

Kit Malthouse: The Department carries out a regular Building Control Performance Standards survey to monitor work by local authorities to ensure that new buildings are compliant with the building regulations. Local authorities are asked to report against those standards, which are designed to encourage consistent, high-quality building control services. The Government is assessing options for strengthening the performance of building control bodies, as part of its response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review of building regulations and fire safety.

Homelessness: Newcastle upon Tyne

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what long-term funding is available for tackling homelessness in Newcastle.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: This Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping, which is why we have committed over £1.2 billion to tackle it over the spending review period, including the £30 million Rough Sleeping Initiative. We are particularly encouraged that across the 83 Rough Sleeping Initiative areas, rough sleeping numbers have fallen by almost a fifth. In just a few short months since the funding was announced, councils have used the investment to create an additional 1,750 beds and 500 rough sleeping support staff – this means there are more people in warm beds tonight as a direct result of government funding.Newcastle has been allocated over £2 million, including Flexible Homelessness Support Grant and Preventing Homelessness Trailblazers funding, to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.Future years funding, from 2020-21 onward, is dependent on Spending Review negotiations. I am therefore not able to clarify at this stage exactly how much funding Newcastle will receive in the future to support this work. However, there are funding opportunities open to all local authorities to bid for in the shorter term, including the Rapid Rehousing Pathway - an initiative to support rough sleepers and those at risk of rough sleeping.

Local Government Finance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the effect on (a) value for money and (b) service provision of providing funding to local authorities through (i) long-term arrangements and (ii) one-off funding streams.

Rishi Sunak: The Government recognises that local authorities value certainty, which is why we agreed a multi year settlement for local government worth over £200 billion in the five years to 2020, that was accepted by 97 per cent of councils in return for publishing efficiency plans. Where there is evidence of increasing pressures in certain areas, the Government has determined it has been right to provide additional funding. Specifically, at Autumn Budget the Chancellor announced an additional £650 million for social care in 2019-20. This includes £240 million of to support adult social care services to reduce winter pressures on the NHS, in addition to the £240 million provided for 2018-19, and £410 million for local authorities to support adults and children’s social care services.In the long term, the Spending Review will determine funding for local government from 2020-21 onwards and will enable us to look at local government spending in the round.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2019 to Question 224343 on Buildings: Insulation, for what reasons there has been a period of six months between the bespoke test methodology being approved by his Department on 22 August 2018 and the start of non-Aluminium Composite material cladding testing taking place in March 2019; and if he will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: Following the acceptance of the test methodology a new bespoke experimental frame as shown in figure 1 of the methodology had to be built, trialled and calibrated in the research facilities. In addition, some issues in acquiring the materials to be tested resulted in some unexpected delays in the testing program.The calibration of the test apparatus is now being finalised and testing will be starting this month.

Philip Morris International

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what meetings (a) Ministers, and (b) officials of his Department, have had with representatives working on behalf of Philip Morris International since 2018 to date.

James Brokenshire: Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretary meetings with external organisations can be found at the following links on gov.uk:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dclg-ministerial-datahttps://www.gov.uk/government/collections/business-expenses-and-hospitality-for-dclg-senior-officialsThe Department does not maintain a record of all meetings which take place between officials and external organisations.

Smoking: Health Services

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations his Department has received from local authorities on services provided by councils to help people give up smoking in the last 12 months.

James Brokenshire: A search of our records indicates no correspondence has been received from local authorities on this matter in the last 12 months.

Sleeping Rough

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the total spending under the Rough Sleeping Initiative in each month in the financial year 2018-19 in (a) London Boroughs and (b) England.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: This Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy which sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. Already, this has provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500 staff– this means there are more people in warm beds tonight as direct result of government funding. In all, the Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period.The Rough Sleeping Initiative programme is led by a multi-disciplinary team that includes MHCLG civil servants, expert rough sleeping advisers, seconded from the homelessness sector, and specialist advisers from across government who provide including health, prisons and probation and care leavers. The expert rough sleeping advisers are funded by MHCLG and the specialist advisers are funded by their own departments.Rough Sleeping Initiative payments are not issued monthly. The table below highlights the amount of funding allocated to local authorities in 2018/19:Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) Programme2018/19RSI Main Grant - 6th JulyLondon Boroughs£7,792,148Greater London Authority£3,300,000Local Authorities - England£18,879,396Sub Total£29,971,544Expert rough sleeping advisers£424,575Cold Weather Payments - Feb£23,243Overall Total£30,419,362 A list of provisional local authority funding allocations can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/funding-allocated-for-councils-to-help-rough-sleepers.

Homelessness: Greater London

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to reduce homelessness in London.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: This Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping, which is why we have now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle it over the spending review period, including the £75 million Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI). We are particularly encouraged that across the 83 RSI areas rough sleeping numbers have fallen by almost a fifth. In its first year, councils have used the investment to create an additional 1,750 beds and 500 rough sleeping support staff this means there are more people in warm beds tonight as a direct result of government fundingLondon is undoubtedly the most challenging area in terms of rough sleeping. The RSI has provided a total of £7.8 million funding to 22 London boroughs in 2018/19 to support rough sleepers off the streets. £9.4 million has provisionally been allocated for 2019/20. The RSI also directly funds the Greater London Authority (GLA) and has provided £3.3 million for 2018/19. Among other things, this has funded the expansion London Street Rescue outreach, floating assessment hubs that tackle specific problem areas, additional staging post accommodation to aid people in their journey away from rough sleeping, as well as a winter night shelter fund and staff to help people with mental health issues. We have provisionally allocated £2.9 million of RSI funding to the GLA for 2019/20.

Homelessness: Liverpool City Region

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what long-term funding is available for tackling homelessness in Liverpool City Region.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: This Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy which sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. Already, this has provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500 staff– this means there are more people in warm beds tonight as direct result of government funding.In all, the Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period. As part of the 1.2 billion, Liverpool City Region has received £3 million, including Housing First Pilot funding to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.Future years funding (from 2020-21 onward) for homelessness and rough sleeping are dependent on Spending Review negotiations, therefore we are not able to clarify at this stage how much funding Liverpool City Region will receive in future to support work to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, however there will be funding opportunities open to all local authorities to bid for in the near future including the Rapid Rehousing Pathway, an initiative to support rough sleepers and those at risk of rough sleeping.

Urban Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a comprehensive review of the town centre first policy.

Kit Malthouse: The town centre first policy approach has been in place for two decades and has helped to give confidence to many town centre regeneration projects across the country.The revised National Planning Policy Framework, which was published last year, reaffirms our commitment to the town centre first approach by stating that main town centre uses should, where possible, be located in town centres.

Buildings: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2019 to Question 224343 on Buildings: Insulation, for what reason the bespoke test methodology was not subject to a full consultation.

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2019 to Question 224343 on Buildings: Insulation, for what reason the bespoke test methodology was not made available in the public domain when it was agreed in August 2018.

Kit Malthouse: Research projects are not usually subject to public consultation. A project steering group was constituted for this research. A summary of the steering group comments on the aims and objectives of the research is provided in Table 1 of the methodology. A copy of the methodology is available in the House library.Full details of the work will be published after it is completed.

Buildings: Insulation

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2019 to Question 224346 on Buildings: Insulation, what plans his Department has to help ensure the removal of insulation materials that have been deemed unsafe.

Kit Malthouse: The Government has set up a comprehensive programme to oversee the remediation of buildings with unsafe Aluminium Composite Material cladding systems. In addition, my department published an advice note (available here) on external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material in December 2017 and updated it in December 2018. This advice makes clear to building owners that wall systems on existing buildings may only use materials, including insulation, that are of limited combustibility unless the system has achieved BR135 classification via a BS 8414 test. It reiterates that the clearest way to ensure safety is to remove any unsafe materials.

Multiple Occupation: Birmingham Edgbaston

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2019 to Question 202108 on Multiple Occupation, what estimate he has made of the number of houses of multiple occupation in Birmingham Edgbaston as at 27 February 2019.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Local authority data returns for 2018-19 will not be published until 2020 and we will not have new data available until then.As stated in response to the previous question on this matter, Question 202108, we estimate from local authority data returns for the period 2016-2017, that there was a stock of 495,208 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in England at that time. Since the 2016-17 figures were published, Government has extended mandatory licensing of HMOs to properties of any size, given 5 or more people from more than 1 household and we estimate that this extension will bring an additional 170,000 properties within the scope of mandatory licensing.  Birmingham City Council is responsible for issuing HMO licences in Birmingham Edgbaston and therefore may be able to provide an estimate of the number of HMOs as at 27 February.

*No heading*

Helen Hayes: What steps his Department is taking to ensure that safety standards are maintained when residences are created under permitted development.

Kit Malthouse: I can confirm that all homes, whether granted permission through a national permitted development right or by a planning application are required to meet Building Regulations, including fire safety.

*No heading*

Nigel Mills: What his policy is on house building on the green belt.

Kit Malthouse: The Government remains committed to protecting the areas that communities value, including the Green Belt. I cannot comment on plans undergoing examination, including Amber Valley, but national policy is clear that Green Belt should only be used for housing as a last resort, and if exceptional circumstances exist.

*No heading*

James Cartlidge: What plans his Department has to support local authorities in the delivery of services.

James Brokenshire: In addition to the Funding Settlement, we provide grant aid to support councils with improvement and realising further efficiencies.We have also launched a Digital Innovation Fund, with 57 councils benefiting, and Suffolk partnering successful three bids.

Ministry of Defence

World War I and World War II: Veterans

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department holds information on war service gratuity payments that were made at the end of the First and Second World Wars to service personnel drawn from the British dominions and colonies.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department holds information on the (a) number and (b) identities of veterans of the Caribbean regiment who served alongside the British armed forces in the Second World War and are still alive.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department holds information on the (a) number and (b) identities of veterans of the British Indian Army who served alongside the British armed forces in the Second World War and are still alive.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department holds information on the (a) number and (b) identities of veterans of the East Africa Force who served alongside the British armed forces in the Second World War and are still alive.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence is investigating what, if any, information is held by the Department. This process will take time to complete and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

Armed Forces: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many drug tests have been administered in the (a) Royal Air Force and (b) Royal Navy in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The numbers provided in the table below relate to the number of drug tests administered each calendar year. YearNumber of drug tests administered each year inRoyal Air ForceRoyal Navy*201412,61813,082201512,45013,556201614,06112,846201720,66215,689201827,19924,032 *These figures are for the Naval Service which consists of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines.  Although the selection of personnel for compulsory drug tests is primarily random, a small percentage of personnel are repeatedly selected for testing. Consequently, the number of personnel tested each year does not directly correlate to the number of drug tests completed.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many compensation payments of £500 or less were made to armed forces service complainants in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy in (i) 2015-16 and (ii) 2016-17; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide the reasons for all compensation payments of £500 or less made to armed forces service complainants in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy in (i) 2015-16 and (ii) 2016-17; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence: Procurement

Leo Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps is he taking to support SMEs in the Defence supply chain to develop innovative technologies.

Stuart Andrew: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to do business with defence, as we recognise that they are a rich source of innovation. We are working to improve our engagement with SMEs throughout our supply chain; for example, encouraging early visibility of forthcoming requirements, and expressing our requirements as outputs rather than detailed solutions to facilitate innovation.The MOD is also encouraging SME involvement in the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and the £800 million Defence Innovation Fund. DASA helps government defence and security departments collaborate with the private sector and academia to rapidly develop innovative solutions to our most pressing national security and defence challenges. Since its establishment, DASA has committed £53 million to suppliers, with around half of the contracts awarded to SMEs.To help develop innovative technologies, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has also just launched 'SME Searchlight', an initiative to actively find and engage SMEs for defence research.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether UK RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft are operating over Yemen in support of the Saudi-led coalition.

Mark Lancaster: We do not comment on the operational deployments of RC-135W Rivet Joint as to do so would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Type 31 Frigates

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Type 31e frigates which are due to be built will form part of the carrier strike.

Mark Lancaster: The Type 31e Frigates will be tailored toward maritime security and defence engagement, including the Fleet Ready Escort role at home, our commitments in the South Atlantic, the Caribbean and the Gulf, and to NATO. These ships will fulfil routine tasks to free up the more complex Type 45 Destroyers and Type 26 Frigates for their specialist combat roles in support of the strategic nuclear deterrent and as part of the carrier strike group.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Procurement

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to allocate funding for the purchase of F-35A or F-35B aircraft; and what assessment he has made of the implications of that decision for the ability of the Royal Air Force to land aircraft on aircraft carriers.

Stuart Andrew: The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 stated our intent to buy 138 F-35 Lightning aircraft over the life of the programme. The first tranche of 48 aircraft will be the carrier capable F-35B, of which 17 have been delivered so far. Decisions on subsequent tranches of Lightning will be taken at the appropriate time.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the guidance entitled, Procurement policy note 03/14: measures to promote tax compliance, published on 6 February 2014, how many suppliers were allocated contracts by his Department as a result of complying with (a) one and (b) more than one of the mitigating circumstances after not meeting the tax compliance questions.

Stuart Andrew: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 26 February 2019, to Question 224371.Information on whether suppliers were allocated contracts as a result of complying with the mitigating circumstances after not meeting the tax compliance questions is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.



224371 - MOD Procurement
(Word Document, 27.24 KB)

India: Pakistan

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with NATO allies on the security situation between India and Pakistan.

Mark Lancaster: The UK has been working closely with our international partners, including NATO, to support the de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan. The UK has been deeply concerned about rising tensions and urgently calls for restraint on both sides to avoid further escalation. The UK is in regular contact with both countries urging for dialogue and diplomatic solutions to ensure regional stability.

Members: Correspondence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to the letter of 14 January 2019 from the right hon. Member for North Norfolk on the security of the UK’s communications infrastructure.

Gavin Williamson: You will have a response on behalf of Her Majesty's Government shortly.

Military Aid: Human Rights

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments have required ministerial approval from his Department in each financial year since 2015-16.

Mark Lancaster: Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessments themselves do not require approval by Ministers. OSJA assessments are written records of the consideration of risks surrounding a proposed activity and they document those who have been consulted. Ministerial approval may be required to authorise the proposed activity being described by the OSJA assessment, depending on the level of risk identified. If the hon. Member is seeking a record of those OSJA related activities, not the assessments themselves, such approvals are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Veterans: Suicide

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the number of UK veterans who have committed suicide (a) in the most recent year for which information is available and (b) in the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Government takes the welfare of Service personnel and veterans very seriously. Any suicide is one too many and a tragedy for the individual, and their family and friends. Whilst we recognise this is a problem in wider society, we take the wellbeing of our Armed Forces very seriously.Suicide data for veterans of the UK Armed Forces is not currently captured by the Government. The recently announced Veterans Strategy will seek to improve data collection of the veteran community.The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has commissioned a new study to investigate causes of death, including suicide, amongst all those who served in the UK Armed Forces between 2001 and 2014, covering combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan at this link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-study-into-iraq-and-afghanistan-veterans-launchedThis will include personnel who are still in service, and personnel who have now transitioned into civilian life.The MOD also publishes studies on the causes of death, including suicide, of veterans from the 1982 Falklands war at the following links:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/causes-of-deaths-among-the-uk-armed-forces-veterans-of-the-1982-falklands-campaignand from the 1990-91 Gulf warhttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/causes-of-deaths-that-occurred-among-the-uk-veterans-of-the-199091-gulf-conflictBoth studies show that the suicide rates amongst veterans were lower than comparative rates in the civilian population.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements: Human Rights

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, which Governments have asked the UK Government for concessions on human rights standards in talks on the conclusion of bilateral trade deals.

George Hollingbery: We are seeking to continue human rights provisions as the UK transitions existing EU free trade deals into a UK form. The government will lay a report in Parliament for each signed agreement laying out any changes from the original. These are largely technical changes.

Trade Agreements: Human Rights

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, the concessions on human rights standards what have been requested by the Governments of other countries in talks with the UK Government on the conclusion of bilateral trade deals.

George Hollingbery: We are seeking to continue human rights provisions as the UK transitions existing EU free trade deals into a UK form. The government will lay a report in Parliament for each signed agreement laying out any changes from the original. These are largely technical changes.

Developing Countries: Fossil Fuels

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the UN Secretary General on UK funding of fossil fuel projects overseas.

Graham Stuart: My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade has not discussed UK financing of fossil fuel projects with the UN Secretary General.

Arms Trade: Trade Fairs

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2019 to Question 220155, which countries from the human rights priority list were invited to and attended Defence and Security Equipment International 2017 as official delegations.

Graham Stuart: The six countries which were invited and attended Defence and Security Equipment International 2017 as official delegations were: BahrainBangladeshColombiaEgyptPakistanSaudi Arabia

Trade Promotion

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of his Department organising (a) UK, (b) overseas events, (c) overseas missions and (d) webinars for UK companies.

George Hollingbery: This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Women and Equalities

Fibromyalgia

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether he has plans to classify fibromyalgia as a disability.

Victoria Atkins: We believe that listing specific conditions would not help people with hard to diagnose illnesses (as is currently often the case with fibromyalgia), as doing so would make protection dependent upon a successful diagnosis rather than the immediate impact of the illness on a person’s life.   The Equality Act 2010 is the principal means through which disabled people are protected from discrimination in Great Britain but does not, except in a few specific instances, specify conditions that may fall within the definition of disability. This is because in most cases, it is the impact on the person’s life that is the qualifying criteria rather than the condition itself.   The definition set out in the Act means that any person with a physical or mental impairment that falls within this definition will already be protected as having a disability, which may apply to many of those with fibromyalgia.

Department for Transport

Heathrow Airport: Noise

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the addition of a third runway at Heathrow Airport on noise pollution levels in the Woking constituency.

Jesse Norman: The Appraisal of Sustainability[1] that accompanies the Airports National Policy Statement provides a strategic level assessment of the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of expansion, including on noise, based on indicative flight paths.At this stage, it is not possible to identify the exact noise impacts on specific communities, such as Woking, if expansion proceeds. These will depend on changes to flight paths, which in the UK must be approved through the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Airspace Change Process. This is a seven-stage process, often taking a number of years between an airport alerting the CAA to a potential change, and the CAA making a decision on whether that change can be implemented.This regulatory process will provide further opportunities for people from local communities, such as Woking, to comment on the detailed proposals for new flightpaths.Heathrow Airport Limited are currently at the second stage of the Airspace Change Process. This stage is known as ‘Option Development’, and requires the airport to design a number of options for new flight paths which will then be published for public consultation.

Crossrail: Contracts

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many of the current Crossrail engineers and construction teams were under contract to transfer to work on HS2 after the planned opening of Crossrail in December 2018; and how many of those contracts resulted in penalty, retainer or other payments or fees to be made to either those individuals or the companies they work for since December 2018.

Andrew Jones: This is a matter for Crossrail Limited and the individual contractors working for Crossrail Limited.

Railway Stations: Leigh

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to site any new railway station for Leigh in Wigan borough.

Andrew Jones: The Government’s policy is that it is for local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to determine the best way to meet local transport needs and take the first step in evaluating benefits and prioritising available resources. It would be for Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to develop such plans and secure funding. TfGM is currently carrying out work to evaluate the feasibility of potential new rail stations and Metrolink stops in Greater Manchester, with a view to developing more detailed plans for a small number of stations that are likely to deliver the greatest value for money. Further details can be found at https://tfgm.com/2040/delivery-plan-2020-2025

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been disbursed from the public purse on barristers' legal fees and expenses for work relating to High Speed Two to (a) James Eadie QC, (b) Tim Mould QC, (c) James Strachan QC, (d) Justine Thornton QC, (e) Philip Moser QC, (f) Karen Steyn QC, (g) Jemima Stratford QC, (h) James Maurici QC, (i) Lisa Busch (now QC), (j) Andrew Sharland (now QC), (k) Julian Milford, (l) Richard Wald, (m) John Joliffe, (n) Jacqueline Lean, (o) Richard Turney, (p) Mark Westmoreland-Smith and (q) Clare Parry since 2010.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Having regard to the need to protect personal information the Department does not consider it would be appropriate to itemise the amount paid to individual barristers. It would also involve the Department in disproportionate cost to identify the fees paid specifically to some barristers rather than their chambers or for HS2 matters alone.

High Speed Two Railway Line: Lancaster

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2019 to Question 221779, High Speed Two: Lancaster, if he will meet (a) the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood and (b) Lancaster business leaders to discuss High Speed Two.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: I understand the importance of HS2 to the north west and specifically to Lancaster. As I stated in my recent letter to you, I have asked my officials to set up a meeting to ensure that your concerns are heard.

Road Traffic Offences

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people (a) charged and (b) found guilty of traffic offences in the UK in each year since 2010.

Jesse Norman: Statistics on prosecutions and convictions for motoring offences are available from the Ministry of Justice Motoring tool and shown below for years 2010 to 2017 for England and Wales:Motoring offences Number of defendants prosecuted at Magistrates' CourtNumber of offenders found guilty at all courts2010681,594586,5152011610,045526,2002012570,481489,5882013565,611480,7202014591,118512,0432015645,719560,5662016667,317590,2602017664,390594,927Source: MoJ Motoring Offences toolThe Ministry of Justice does not hold data for Scotland and Northern Ireland. On motoring offences charges, the Home Office does not hold data on these charges apart from ‘causing death by dangerous driving’, because these offences are non-notifiable.

Cycling and Walking: Infrastructure

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to allocate funding to local authorities to implement Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans.

Jesse Norman: Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) are used by Local Authorities to identify and prioritise investment for cycling and walking schemes from local funds and relevant national funding streams, such as the Highways Maintenance Fund, Integrated Transport Block, Transforming Cities Fund, Future High Streets Fund, Housing Infrastructure Fund and the Clean Air Fund. Decisions on future funding for cycling and walking will be made in the context of the forthcoming Spending Review.

Cycling: Death

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cyclists died as a result of road traffic incident in (a) West Derby, (b) Merseyside and (c) the UK in each year since 2010.

Jesse Norman: The number of cyclist fatalities in reported road accidents in each year between 2010 and 2017 is shown in the table attached. The data we hold only covers reported personal injury road accidents in Great Britain, we do not have data for Northern Ireland. 



 cyclist fatalities in reported road accidents 
(Word Document, 14.21 KB)

Speed Limits: Schools

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a reduction in speed limits outside schools from 30 mph to 20 mph on the level of road traffic incidents.

Jesse Norman: In November 2018, the Department for Transport published an evaluation into 20mph limits (which are marked by signs only): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/20-mph-speed-limits-on-roads. The study found insufficient evidence to conclude that in residential areas the introduction of 20mph limits had led to a significant change in collisions and casualties. However, one city centre case study did show a significant reduction in collisions and casualties. Overall the introduction of 20mph limits led to a small reduction in median speed (less than 1mph), but vehicles travelling at higher speeds before the change of speed limit reduced their speed more than those already travelling at lower speeds. Research in 1996 showed that 20mph zones (which have traffic calming) could reduce the overall average annual collision frequency by up to two-thirds.

Southeastern: Standards

Sir David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of trains on the Southeastern rail network have been delayed in the last 12 months; and what proportion of those delayed trains were the fault of (a) Southeastern and (b) Network Rail.

Andrew Jones: Statistics on passenger rail performance are published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The current standard measure of train punctuality is the Public Performance Measure (PPM). PPM is defined as the percentage of trains arriving at the final destination within five minutes of the planned timetable for London and South East, Regional and Scotland operators, or within ten minutes for the Long Distance operators. Published PPM statistics per train operator up to Rail Period 11 2018-19 (January 2019) are available on the ORR website at the below link:https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/88127b42-8507-4261-bef7-c65527ada55d The latest available statistics show that in the year ending Period 11 2018-19, 88.1% of planned Southeastern services arrived at their final destination within five minutes of the planned timetable. Statistics on train delay by cause are currently available up to Period 7 2018-19 (October 2018) and are also published by the ORR at the below link:https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/excel_doc/0006/25179/delays-by-cause-by-toc.xlsx In the year ending Period 7 2018-19 (October 2018), 87.7% of planned Southeastern services arrived at their final destination within five minutes of the planned timetable. Over this year, 61% of Southeastern PPM failures recorded were attributed to Network Rail, whilst 32% of PPM failures were attributed to Southeastern. The remaining PPM failures occurred as a result of delays attributed to other Train Operators, as well as small proportion of delays for which it is not possible to attribute to a specific cause.

Road Traffic Offences: Schools

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many pedestrians were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in traffic incidents outside of schools in (i) Merseyside and (ii) England in each of the last 10 years.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport collects and publishes data on the location of road traffic accidents. However, it does not collect data or define a variable as to whether these accidents occurred outside schools, since the surroundings and road networks of each school are different.

Roads: Safety

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department has allocated to promote awareness of road safety for children in each of the last 10 years.

Jesse Norman: The Department only holds data covering 2014/2015 onwards and can advise that £4721692.47 has been spent on making our roads safer since then. The Department cannot break down to exact figures as any funding given for road safety could have sub-elements that is specifically used for children.

Cherwell Valley Railway Line: Electrification

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2019 to Question 206853 on Cherwell Valley Railway Line: Electrification, for what reasons that answer did not specify when he expects the publication of the timetable for a decision to be made on the future electrification of the railway line between Oxford and Didcot Parkway.

Andrew Jones: A decision on the electrification of the railway line between Oxford and Didcot Parkway will be made at an appropriate time.The case for funding enhancements in Control Period 6, covering the period from April 2019 to 2024, will be subject to the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline process.

Taxis: Guide Dogs

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many complaints his Department has received in each of the last five years on mini cab drivers refusing service to customers with guide dogs.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Responsibility for investigating alleged instances of illegal discrimination by taxi and private hire drivers, and for taking further action where appropriate, rests with respective local licensing authorities, and the Government does not collate statistics on the occurrence of individual incidents. We plan to undertake research to understand why some drivers continue to refuse passengers with assistance dogs, and what further steps could be taken to eliminate such unacceptable behaviour.

Northern: Compensation

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people in the North-West have (a) applied for and (b) received compensation from Northern Rail for (i) delays and (ii) cancellations to services.

Andrew Jones: The Department does not hold this information. However, in January the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) published rail passenger compensation figures by train operating company (TOC) for the first time, which included the number of claims received and number of claims approved in each period for each TOC. The figures can be found at: https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/efefea78-e211-48b1-9f5e-2b9de8792b0c

Railways: Tickets

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what correspondence he has received from London TravelWatch on reviewing the criteria for ticket office opening hours; and if he will place a copy of that correspondence in the Library.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what correspondence he has received on London Overground ticket office opening hours from (a) London Overground, (b) the Mayor of London, (c) London TravelWatch; and if he will place copies of that correspondence in the Library.

Andrew Jones: The Secretary of State for Transport has not received any correspondence from London TravelWatch on reviewing the criteria for ticket office opening hours. With regard to London Overground ticket office opening hours, the Secretary of State has received correspondence from London Overground. No correspondence has been received from London TravelWatch or the Mayor of London on this matter. We do not routinely publish correspondence between Ministers and third parties.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

World War I and World War II: Veterans

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department holds information on war service gratuity payments made at the end of the First and Second World Wars to service personnel drawn from the British dominions and colonies.

Sir Alan Duncan: Following searches, no information relating to war service gratuity payments made to service personnel drawn from the British dominions and colonies at the end of the First and Second World Wars can be found.Publicly available files held at The National Archives that originated from a number of government departments (including the Treasury, War Office, Foreign and Colonial Offices) contain potentially relevant information about First and Second World War service gratuity payments.

China: Pandas

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Chinese government on the protection of pandas.

Mark Field: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not recently discussed the protection of pandas with the Chinese government.We have close relations with a number of other organisations who are collaborating with China on this important work, most notably the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

Nicaragua: Third Sector

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect on civil society organisations in Nicaragua of the closure of the Information Center and Advisory Services in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: We strongly condemn the persecution of human rights organisations in Nicaragua, including the steps taken by the authorities to revoke the legal status of human rights Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The UK regularly raises our concerns with the Nicaraguan Government. During meetings on 5-7 and 25 February, our Ambassador urged the Nicaraguan Government to reinstate NGO registration and to allow international bodies, such as the UN and the Organization of American States, back to continue their vital work.

Bangladesh: Diplomatic Relations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met with the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the Court of St. James.

Mark Field: I most recently met the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 10 January 2019 in London.

Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has held with his counterpart in the German Government on the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia, and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: The United Kingdom and Germany have a close relationship which allows us to have continual discussions on a broad range of matters at all levels. The Foreign Secretary discussed, amongst other issues, arms sales to Saudi Arabia with his German counterpart, Foreign Minister Maas, on 1 and 20 February. He has also written to Mr Maas on this issue. All UK export licence applications for Saudi Arabia are assessed rigorously against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing criteria.

Libya: Arms Trade

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent to which arms were shipped from the Libyan port of Benghazi to Syria in 2012-13; who was involved in these shipments; and for which groups in Syrian were those arms intended.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports of arms shipments from Libya to Syria during the period in question. It was out of concern about the situation in Libya, including flows of arms, that the UK supported UN Security Council Resolution 1970 in 2011, which imposed an arms embargo. We have supported subsequent UN Security Council Resolutions authorising UN Member States to inspect vessels off the coast of Libya where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they are violating the embargo. We continue to work with our partners in the UN to support the implementation of the embargo, and to address reports of violations.

India: Pakistan

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of relations between India and Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: The UK is deeply concerned about rising tensions between India and Pakistan.We welcome the fact that both countries have stated publicly they wish to de-escalate tensions. We are working hard with them and our international partners to encourage this and to ensure regional stability.

Libya: Undocumented Migrants

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much the Government has spent on programmes based in Libya aimed at countering irregular migration from that country; who the Libyan executor was of those programmes; and whether those programmes were funded from the UK aid budget, for each year since 2011.

Alistair Burt: Since October 2015, the UK has allocated over £175 million of humanitarian assistance in response to the Mediterranean migration crisis, including substantial support in Libya. Projects related to migration, dating back to 2015, are listed below.As part of the Department for International Development's £75 million programme supporting interventions in origin, transit and destination countries across the sub-Saharan and north African migration routes, up to £5 million will be allocated to humanitarian assistance and protection for migrants and refugees in Libya. In addition, a new multi-year programme worth £3.29 million focuses on multi-sector humanitarian assistance and building capacity of primary health care services.These programmes illustrate the UK's "whole of route" approach to supporting safe, legal and well-managed migration. Drawing on a range of funding sources, including UK Aid, the UK acts with and through key partners such as the UN High Commissoner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and builds the capacity of key Libyan actors (for example in the criminal justice sector) to provide the long-term capabilities to tackle the associated threats and drivers.The information back to 2011 is not readily available/held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.International Committee of the Red Cross Humanitarian programme in Libya £2 millionIOM Med Migration programme £0.8 millionUNHCR Med Migration programme £0.45 millionIOM Safety Support and Solutions - Support to International Organisation for Migration for direct assistance and protection for migrants inside Libya £1.5 millionIOM Safety Support and Solutions - IOM AVR (support to voluntary returns) £0.5 millionUNHCR Safety Support and Solutions (support to UNHCR refugee and returns programmes in North Africa) £2.18 millionDanish Refugees Council Safety Support and Solutions (to protect women and girls from the heightened risks of trafficking and gender based violence faced in Libya) £1.5 millionUNHCR North Africa Joint Unit (NAJU) programme (support to UNHCR refugee and returns programmes in North Africa) £0.85 millionIOM NAJU Conflict Stability and Security Fund programme (support for voluntary returns) £1.7 million

INF Treaty

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many ground-based weapons have been destroyed under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Mark Field: Only the US and the Soviet Union were parties to the INF Treaty when it came into force. Each was permitted extensive on-site inspections for verification purposes. According to the US Department of State and other non-government sources, a total of 2,692 missiles were eliminated following the Treaty's entry into force.

Russia: INF Treaty

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what date was the latest material breach of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty by Russia.

Mark Field: On 4 December 2018, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo declared Russia to be in material breach of the INF Treaty. On the same day, NATO Foreign Ministers issued a statement supporting the finding of the US. The US has been expressing concerns about Russia non-compliance since 2013 and in 2014 declared its findings that Russia was in violation of its Treaty obligations.

Russia: INF Treaty

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the timeframe is for Russia to comply with the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty after that country's latest material breach.

Mark Field: The US first declared Russia to be in violation of its INF Treaty obligations in 2014 and has done so many more times in the last five years. NATO Allies have also been expressing shared concerns about Russian non-compliance since 2014. Russia has offered no credible response.On 2 February 2019, the US began the process of withdrawing from the INF Treaty. The Treaty's formal withdrawal process takes six months and provides Russia with a final opportunity to return to full and verifiable compliance with its Treaty obligations.

Russia: Foreign Relations

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what (a) multi-lateral and (b) bi-lateral fora he holds discussions with his Russian counterpart.

Mark Field: Current planned contact between the Foreign Secretary and his Russian counterpart has been suspended since March 2018, although they have simultaneously attended the UN Security Council. On 16 February the Minister for Europe and the Americas met Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Titov at the Munich Security Conference. As he outlined to Mr Titov in that meeting, we have no quarrel with the Russian people but Russia needs to choose a different path before there can be any meaningful change in our relationship.

Burma: Peace Negotiations

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Myanmar on the role of the military in the peace process in that country.

Mark Field: The Foreign Secretary discussed the civilian government's plans to bring an end to Burma's long-running internal conflicts, through the peace process, when he met State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in September 2018. The UK is clear that the Burmese military must adhere to international standards and that there must be accountability and justice for any human rights abuses such as those reported in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan States in the UN Fact Finding Mission report.

Interserve

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff within his Department are at risk of redundancy under the current facility management contract held by Interserve; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: ​There are no Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff that are at risk of redundancy under the current facilities management contract.The changes to the Interserve staffing on this contract are as a result of a change to the delivery model for the contract, not as a result of the company's financial situation. Negotiations are ongoing and we believe there are 9 roles in the current structure which do not fit within the new model.For any changes (including redundancies) Interserve will follow the appropriate procedures, including consultation with individuals and their representatives, to meet their duty to mitigate the risk of redundancy, including through exploring opportunities for redeployment.

Interserve

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department was made aware of any financial insecurities when awarding a new contract to Interserve in 2018 that could result in possible job losses in the following financial year.

Alistair Burt: ​No. The contract was awarded after Interserve had secured refinancing in April 2018, which had increased their financial stability and with the full agreement of Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. Any changes to staffing on the contract delivered to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are a result of the change to the proposed service delivery model and are not a result of Interserve's financial position.Interserve announced on 27 February that its lenders, bonding providers and Pension Trusteee have agreed to its proposed deleveraging plan, a significant milestone in the delivery of their refinancing.

Interserve

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with Interserve on their decision to impose contractual changes with respect to pay dates to its staff contracted to work in his Department.

Alistair Burt: ​We are aware that Interserve has been in discussion with some of its employees that may be affected by changing dates to payroll. We have been assured by Interserve that employees will not be detrimentally affected by this change of dates and Interserve have provided reassurance that staff will not have reductions in conditions as a result of this change.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Procurement

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the guidance entitled, Procurement policy note 03/14: measures to promote tax compliance, published on 6 February 2014, how many suppliers were allocated contracts by his Department as a result of complying with (a) one and (b) more than one of the mitigating circumstances after not meeting the tax compliance questions.

Mark Field: Authority to enter into contracts is devolved to Directorates within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and to our overseas Posts. Relevant data to answer this question is not held centrally and could not be collated without disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to respond to the letter of 14 January 2019 from the right hon. Member for North Norfolk on the security of the UK’s communications infrastructure.

Mark Field: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will issue a response on behalf of government shortly.

Turkey: Minority Groups

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the Turkish Government’s treatment of (a) members of the Alevi community and (b) other religious minorities.

Mark Field: We strongly support all minority groups in Turkey, including the Alevi community, and encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare and respect their human rights as enshrined in the Turkish constitution. Through our Embassy in Ankara we are currently funding a range of projects covering issues including LGBTI rights, freedom of expression, women's rights and workers' rights.

Turkey: Minority Groups

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has his Turkish counterpart on (a) the treatment of Alevis in the Turkish prison system and (b) those people's access to Dedes.

Mark Field: We have not made specific representations to Turkey on these issues. We expect Turkey to treat all prisoners, regardless of faith or ethnicity, fairly and in line with internationally recognised standards.

Kashmir: Armed Conflict

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking help resolve the hostilities in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: The UK is deeply concerned about rising tensions between India and Pakistan. The UK has been, and continues to be, in close contact at senior levels in India and Pakistan. The Prime Minister spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on 3 March to welcome his commitment to reducing tensions with India, and to emphasise the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups in support of global efforts to combat terrorism. During a visit to India between 28 February and 3 March, I met Indian Foreign Secretary Gokhale in New Delhi to express the UK's concern at current tensions and to encourage a peaceful diplomatic solution.We are working hard, including with our international partners and the UN, to help India and Pakistan reduce tensions in order to safeguard regional stability. We welcome the fact that both countries have said they do not want to escalate tensions.

Kashmir: Armed Conflict

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to discuss with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts the current situation in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: We welcome the fact that both countries have said they do not want to escalate tensions. The UK has been, and continues to be, in close contact at senior levels in both countries. We are working hard with them and our international partners to encourage de-escalation and to ensure regional stability.The Prime Minister spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on 3 March to welcome his commitment to reducing tensions with India, and to emphasise the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups in support of global efforts to combat terrorism. During a visit to India between 28 February and 3 March, I met Indian Foreign Secretary Gokhale to express the UK's concern at current tensions and to encourage a peaceful diplomatic solution. On Wednesday 27 February, I spoke to the Indian and Pakistan High Commissioners about these issues. On Monday 25 February, the Foreign Secretary spoke to his Indian and Pakistani counterparts, Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mahmood Qureshi respectively, to discuss the situation. He spoke to Shah Mahmood Qureshi again on Thursday 28 February.

USA: Overseas Workers

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential risk to UK citizens working as journalists in the US.

Mark Field: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Travel Advice sets out our assessment of the considerations British Nationals should be mindful of when travelling to the US. The Advice does not include specific cautions with regard to British journalists.

Kashmir: Armed Conflict

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his counterparts in India and Pakistan on immediately reducing tensions in that region.

Mark Field: The UK is deeply concerned about rising tensions between India and Pakistan. The UK has been, and continues to be, in close contact at senior levels in both countries.The Prime Minister spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on 3 March to welcome his commitment to reducing tensions with India, and to emphasise the importance of Pakistan taking action against all terrorist groups in support of global efforts to combat terrorism. During a visit to India on 1 March, I met Indian Foreign Secretary Gokhale to express the UK's concern at current tensions and to encourage a peaceful diplomatic solution. On Wednesday 27 February, I spoke to both the Indian and Pakistan High Commissioners on these issues. On Monday 25 February, the Foreign Secretary spoke to his Indian and Pakistani counterparts, Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mahmood Qureshi respectively, to discuss the situation. He spoke to Shah Mahmood Qureshi again on Thursday 28 February.We welcome the fact that both countries have said they do not want to escalate tensions. We are working hard with them and our international partners to encourage de-escalation and to ensure regional stability.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Education

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which (a) for-profit private companies and (b) private contractors received official development assistance for the (i) delivery of education and (ii) facilitation of education programmes in (A) Liberia, (B) Sierra Leone, (C) Mozambique, (D) Sudan and (E) Zambia in each year from 2015 to 2018.

Penny Mordaunt: The table below sets out centrally let contracts with (a) for-profit private companies and (b) private contractors in the last four years (2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 YTD) for education programmes in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Sudan and Zambia. During this same period, we have also had spend with not-for-profit organisations for education programmes in the countries cited above.  Supplier NameLiberia (LR)Sudan (SD)Mozambique (MZ)Sierra Leone (SL)Zambia (ZM)OXFORD POLICY MANAGEMENT£0£0£0£75,274£0OXFORD POLICY MANAGEMENT£0£0£0£0£325,323OXFORD POLICY MANAGEMENT£0£0£1,217,611£0£0MOTT MACDONALD LTD£0£0£4,323,891£0£0BRITISH COUNCIL£0£0£0£0£2,876,402COFFEY INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LTD£0£0£145,369£0£0McKinsey & Co, Inc UK£0£0£0£1,678,960£0MOTT MACDONALD LTD£0£0£0£17,605,968£0PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS£0£0£0£964,655£0 £0£0£5,686,871£20,324,857£3,201,725

Overseas Aid: Libya

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much UK funding is allocated to the Department for Combating Illegal Migration in Libya; from which UK Department that budget is drawn; and how much of that funding qualifies as official development assistance.

Alistair Burt: No UK funding is allocated to the Libyan Department for Combating Illegal Migration.

Department for International Development: Brexit

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff in her Department have been seconded to support projects related to the UK leaving the EU (a) within her Department and (b) to other Departments.

Harriett Baldwin: As at 28 February, DFID has deployed 39 employees on short term loan to other government departments and fewer than 10 staff internally to support projects related to the UK leaving the EU.

Developing Countries: Religion

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to collect data on marginalised religious or belief groups in countries in which her Department operates in a way which does not put those groups at risk.

Alistair Burt: Through UK Aid Connect, DFID will provide funding to a consortium led by the Institute of Development Studies to collect data on marginalised religious or belief groups in a way which does not put those groups at risk. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is supporting a project to explore models for better data on Freedom of Religion or Belief through the Magna Carta Fund.

Burma: Human Trafficking

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to her Department's press release entitled UK aid protecting women from trafficking in Burma – and helping them into jobs published on 18 February 2019, how UK aid has been used to help disadvantaged and conflict-affected people.

Alistair Burt: DFID Burma is bringing disadvantaged and conflict affected people into the heart of all its development programme. Our aim is to ensure that people who have been affected by poverty, marginalisation and exclusion get access to quality services and can retain and build their human capital, whatever the circumstances they find themselves in. This means making sure groups, like the long-term displaced in parts of Burma and on the Thai-border can get a good education, good health and nutrition and the skills they can use to generate income or benefit from future jobs.

Burma: Human Trafficking

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to her Department's press release entitled UK aid protecting women from trafficking in Burma – and helping them into jobs published on 18 February 2019, whether the Government has received assurances that UK aid provided to Sittwe General Hospital will not be used to underpin reported apartheid practices at that hospital.

Alistair Burt: The UK is working with the Ministry of Health in Burma to upgrade Sittwe General Hospital to provide better health services for all communities in Rakhine State. The refurbishment will go in hand with work to ensure that hospital access and referral networks ensure that it serves all communities. The UK specifically supports the women and children health ward and modernising the building to make it safer for patients. This is in line with Recommendations 40 and 42 of the Kofi Annan-led Rakhine Advisory Commission.   Through the Access to Health Fund, the UK is also providing funding to NGOs working at the community level to improve health care in Rakhine for all communities and expanding to areas which are hard to reach.

Department for Education

Schools: Sheffield Hallam

Jared O'Mara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has plans to increase the level infrastructure spending on schools in Sheffield Hallam constituency.

Nick Gibb: The Department’s priorities for investment in the school estate are to ensure there are enough school places and that the school estate is safe. The Department has committed £7 billion to deliver new school places between 2015-2021, on top of the investment in the free school programme. Local authorities are under a statutory duty to ensure that there is a school place available for every child. Sheffield received £95.5 million to provide new school places from 2011-2018 and has been allocated a further £22 million from 2018-2021. Funding for school places is based on local authorities’ own data on school capacity and pupil forecasts. There is, therefore, no shortfall between the number of places funded and those that councils say they need to create. Since 2015, the Department has allocated £6 billion in condition funding to those responsible for maintaining school buildings across the country. Included within this, Sheffield local authority receives an annual school condition allocation to invest in maintenance priorities across its schools. In 2018-19, they received £2.7 million and voluntary aided (VA) schools in the area were allocated £210,000.Maintained schools in Sheffield also received their own direct capital allocations totalling £2 million in 2018-19 and £109,000 for VA schools. This includes their allocation from the additional £400 million of capital funding announced at Budget 2018. These figures do not include academies, which receive separate funding. In addition, the Priority School Building Programme is rebuilding or refurbishing buildings in the worst condition at over 500 schools across England, including 4 schools in Sheffield City Council’s area. The Department is collecting updated data on the condition of the school estate in England which is due to be completed in autumn 2019 and will help inform future funding policy. The Department will also continue to look carefully at capital funding in preparation for the next Spending Review, along with all its priorities for the education system.

Teachers: Pay

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2019 to Question 204600 on Teachers: Pay, what advice his Department received on the decision to award the teachers’ pay grant to maintained schools and academies and not sixth form colleges.

Nick Gibb: Ministers received detailed advice from officials before announcing the Teachers’ Pay Grant. Unions and other representative organisations also contacted the Department.The Teachers’ Pay Grant was introduced in response to changes to the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD), following recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body. This document applies to maintained schools, and as many academies choose to follow it, the grant was available to both maintained schools and academies.There are 16-19 maintained schools which must follow the STPCD. These were included in the pay grant, alongside equivalent academies.Further education (FE) and sixth form colleges have a different legal status and relationship to Government. They are private institutions, independent of Government, and it is for employers to agree pay structures, based on local needs. The Department is considering carefully the needs of FE colleges, including in relation to funding, in preparation for the next Spending Review.

Teachers: Stress

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to tackle increasing levels of stress and of mental health issues experienced by primary and secondary school teachers and head teachers.

Nick Gibb: In January 2019, the Department launched the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy. This includes commitments to simplify the accountability system, limit the amount of change that schools have to deliver and provide support to tackle challenging pupil behaviour. The Department is also introducing an Early Career Framework for teachers, which includes mentor training, so that newly qualified teachers receive the support they need. The strategy can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-recruitment-and-retention-strategy.The strategy marks the beginning of a conversation with head teachers about how they can be supported to reduce unnecessary planning, marking and data requirements; supports teachers to deal with disruptive behaviour; and establishes a culture that values continued professional development and flexible working at all career stages.The Department continues to work with unions, teachers and Ofsted to challenge and remove unnecessary workload and a joint letter from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, and other key national organisations was sent to school leaders in November confirming their support to help reduce workload in schools. The Department has accepted all the recommendations of the Making Data Work report and published a workload reduction toolkit as part of an ongoing programme to tackle excessive workload in schools. The report and government response can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-workload-advisory-group-report-and-government-response.

Schools: Surveys

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to introduce statutory annual surveys for school staff in (a) primary, (b) secondary schools and (c) colleges.

Nick Gibb: Local authorities, local authority-maintained schools and academies must complete the school workforce census each autumn. This is a statutory data collection on all teaching and support staff in regular employment. More information is available here: www.gov.uk/guidance/school-workforce-census. The College Staff Survey was published in 2018. The report is available here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/college-staff-survey-2018. This was a standalone, voluntary exercise. The Department would consider the introduction of any additional future surveys very carefully, weighing up the potential benefits against the possible workload requirements for schools and colleges.

Children and Young People: Visual Impairment

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure sufficient capacity for children and young people with vision impairments to be assessed by education and habilitation VI specialists to enable a plan to be devised for them to (a) access learning and (b) develop their independence.

Nadhim Zahawi: In relation to the capacity of education and habilitation VI specialists to allow for the assessment of all young people with vision impairment and to support their access to learning and the development of independence, I refer the hon. Member for West Lancashire to the answer I gave on 21 February 2019 to 222014.

Special Educational Needs: Finance

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ring-fencing funding for low incidence high needs children, including those with a vision impairment to ensure that resources go directly to the children to (a) meet their needs and (b) ensure they are fully supported.

Nadhim Zahawi: We believe that the decisions about the level of support required by individual children, and how much funding will be required to provide that support, are best taken by the child’s school or other education provider who works most closely with them and their parents and is therefore best placed to gauge what they need.The special educational needs and disabilities reforms in the Children and Families Act (2014) have enabled greater personalisation of support through the use of a personal budget to provide children’s parents and young people with choice and control over the design of their care and education package. The personal budget is a sum of money made available by the local authority at the request of a parent or young person if it is clear that, without this additional funding, it will not be possible to meet the child’s learning needs.Part or all of the personal budget payment can be paid directly to the family as a direct payment. This can be used for anything that achieves the child’s outcomes in their education, health and care plan, out of school activities, overnight short breaks or group activities supported by a personal assistant. It can also be used for targeted support such as specialist teacher services, sensory impairment support or speech and language therapy.

Schools: Asbestos

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the number of UK schools that undertook (a) the partial removal of asbestos and (b) the total removal of asbestos from school buildings in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The Department started to collect data on asbestos management in schools in 2016. All state-funded schools in England were invited to participate in the voluntary data collection and 25% responded. The findings were published in a report on GOV.UK in February 2017, but the data collection did not include information about how much asbestos had been removed from the school estate. The Department launched a second data collection, the Asbestos Management Assurance Process, in March 2018, to help develop a more comprehensive understanding of asbestos management in the school estate which does include a question on asbestos removal. This data collection has just closed and responses are being analysed. The Department intends to publish the findings from this report in spring 2019. To help local authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts to meet their legal duties and manage asbestos effectively, the Department refers to advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In February 2017, the Department also published ‘Asbestos Management in Schools’ guidance. The HSE advice is clear that if asbestos is unlikely to be damaged or disturbed, then it is best managed in situ. Although, the Department is also clear that when asbestos does pose a risk to safety and cannot be effectively managed in situ, it should be removed. Since 2015, the Department has allocated £6 billion to those responsible for school buildings and for essential maintenance and improvements, including removing or encapsulating asbestos when it is the safest course of action to do so. In addition, through the Priority School Building Programme, the Department is rebuilding or refurbishing buildings in the worst condition in over 500 schools across the country. Asbestos was a factor in selecting buildings for the programme.

Students: Sexual Harassment

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions his Department has had with universities on steps they can take to reduce levels of sexual misconduct towards students.

Chris Skidmore: The government takes any form of violence and sexual harassment, including in higher education, extremely seriously. The department meets with individual universities and representative bodies on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues relating to student welfare. In addition, the department holds regular meetings with Universities UK (UUK) and the Office for Students (OfS) specifically on matters of sexual harassment and misconduct in higher education, including in relation to progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the UUK Taskforce’s on sexual violence, harassment and hate crime affecting university students.Since the publication of these recommendations in 2016, a total investment of £4.7 million, match funded by higher education providers, has been invested by the OfS and its predecessor, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, in 119 safeguarding projects; £2.45 million of which was given to 63 projects specifically focussed on tackling sexual and gender-based violence in higher education. This work remains a priority for the department, which is why my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State’s guidance for the financial year 2019-20 asks the OfS to continue to support the student experience, including a focus on harassment and hate crime.

Social Services: Children and Young People

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the February 2019 report by Action for Children and others which linked reductions in local children's services with an increase in youth violence and exploitation; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: At Autumn Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an extra £410 million to address pressures on social care services, along with £84 million over 5 years to support up to 20 local authorities to improve their social work practice and decision-making, enabling them to work more effectively with the most vulnerable children and their families.This builds on the £200 billion government has already made available to councils up to 2020 to provide services in the best interests of local residents, including those for children and young people.We are also working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the sector to ensure decisions around core funding made at Spending Review, and how it is shared between local authorities as part of the review of relative needs and resources, are informed by the best available evidence.Additionally, the National Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has announced its first review into adolescents at risk of criminal exploitation focusing on whether young people get the help they need, when they need it and how services can be improved to prevent further harm: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-safeguarding-practice-review-panel-first-national-review.

Pupils: Health

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to (a) collect data on the wellbeing of every primary and secondary school in England and Wales and (b) publish that data in a wellbeing league table.

Nick Gibb: The Department has no plans to collect or publish school-level data on the wellbeing of pupils in primary and secondary schools in England. Education is a devolved matter; it is for the National Assembly to decide on policy for schools in Wales.In October 2018, my right hon Friend, the Prime Minister made a commitment that the Government will publish a ‘State of the Nation’ report every year on World Mental Health Day, which will highlight the trends and issues in young people’s wellbeing. The first of these will be published in October this year.The Government also plans to provide schools with tools later this year to help schools measure their students’ health, including their mental wellbeing, building on the commitment to make education in mental health a compulsory part of the curriculum. The tools are intended to be used voluntarily by schools and will not include a requirement to report back to the Government.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the average of real terms per pupil funding for 5-16 year olds in England in (a) 2000-2010, and (b) 2011-2018.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Children: Day Care

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much central Government funding childcare providers receive for providing free childcare to three and four-year-olds.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the article entitled UK free childcare funding woes forcing some providers out of business, published by the Financial Times on 28 April 2018, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of reports that the 30 hours’ free childcare for working parents of three and four year olds is underfunded; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the level of Government funding provided for that childcare on the fees charged by providers to parents of younger children.

Nadhim Zahawi: We will be spending around £6 billion on childcare support in 2019-20 - a record amount. That will include funding for our early education entitlements, on which we plan to spend around £3.5 billion this year alone. Local authorities receive funding from central government for delivering the free early years entitlements to 3 and 4 year olds through the dedicated schools grant. Our provisional allocations to local authorities for 2018-19 can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2018-to-2019. Local authorities are responsible for setting the funding rates for their early years providers in consultation with their schools forum. Data from local authority planned expenditure for 2018-19 is publicly available. The data, as reported by local authorities, is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/planned-la-and-school-expenditure-2018-to-2019-financial-year. The government recognises the need to keep the evidence base on costs and charges up to date. The mean hourly fee charged by providers in England in Spring 2018 was estimated to be £5.02 for children under age 2, £5.01 for children aged 2 and £4.92 for 3 and 4 year old preschool children. Details can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2018. We continue to monitor the provider market closely through a range of regular and one-off research projects which provide insight into various aspects of the provider market.

Children: Day Care

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what records his Department holds on the socio-economic background of those claiming free childcare for three and four-year-olds.

Nadhim Zahawi: The number of 3 and 4 year old children benefitting from universal funded early education in receipt of early years pupil premium (EYPP) is published in table 20 of the 'Provision for children under 5 years of age' statistical release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2018. The EYPP gives childcare providers additional funding to support disadvantaged 3 and 4-year-old children. 3 and 4-year-olds will be eligible for EYPP if the child receives the universal 15 hours funded early education and their family are in receipt of specified benefits or the child is looked-after by a local authority or has left care. The number of 3 and 4 year old children benefitting from extended funded early education is published in table 3LA of the 'Provision for children under 5 years of age' statistical release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2018. Eligibility for the extended funded early education is based on parental income. The additional 15 hours is available to families where both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family), and each parent earns the equivalent of a weekly minimum of 16 hours at national minimum wage or national living wage, and less than £100,000 per year. This also includes self-employed parents and parents on zero-hour contracts. The government has made provisions to ensure that parents in certain circumstances will be regarded as being in work. This includes couple families where one parent is in receipt of benefits relating to caring responsibilities or their disability. The department also gathers information about the demographic characteristics of parents using childcare in the 'Childcare and early years survey of parents': https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2018.

Teachers: Training

Karen Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether additional funding will be provided for supply teachers while permanent staff undertake the accelerated teaching programme.

Nick Gibb: Through the Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund, the Department for Education is funding Accelerate – a professional development programme that will provide specialist support for early career teachers.Accelerate, delivered by the Education Development Trust, is free to eligible teachers in their first five years of teaching. As a part of the programme, schools will be remunerated for teachers or leaders who are involved in aspects of delivery, for example, for coaching participants. No additional funding is provided to cover supply staff costs for staff undertaking the programme.

Department of Education: Apprentices

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of staff employed in each group of his Department that are apprentices.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of staff at the Institute for Apprenticeships are apprentices.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of staff in his Department working on apprenticeship strategy, policy, and delivery are apprentices.

Anne Milton: The department currently employs 209 apprentices. This can be broken down into the following groups in the attached table, which also shows the proportion against the total number of employees.Regarding the proportion of apprentices employed at the Institute for Apprenticeships, this is a matter for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. I have asked the Chief Executive, Sir Gerry Berragan, to write to the hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.Within the Education and Skills Funding Agency, 5 employees working on apprenticeships strategy, policy and delivery are apprentices, which represents 1.6% of the total of 317 employees.  



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Teachers: Pensions

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government will meet the costs of changes associated with employer contributions to the Teachers' Pensions Schemes for maintained nursery schools.

Nick Gibb: The Department’s public consultation to gather evidence on the impact of increased contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) for all TPS employers, which included the initial proposal to fund Maintained Nursery Schools for 2019/20, closed on 12 February 2019. Final funding decisions will be made in due course, once consultation evidence has been reviewed.

Apprentices: Assessments

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking with the Institute of Apprenticeships to ensure that the required end-point assessments are available for new apprenticeships without delay.

Anne Milton: The Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfA) works with employer trailblazer groups to understand the requirements of developing end-point assessment materials and to design assessment plans that end-point assessment organisations are able to work with to deliver high quality and consistent end-point assessment.The IfA also works with the Education and Skills Funding Agency to make sure that there is appropriate coverage of apprenticeships assessment across all standards, including by working with a wide variety of organisations to stimulate provision. The register of end-point assessment organisations is always open and there are 215 organisations currently on the register. As new standards are developed, we continue to work with the sector to make sure that new and existing end-point assessment organisations are aware of the opportunity and can apply to the register for employers to select them.We are working with the IfA and external quality assurance providers to monitor the progress of organisations once they are approved on the register and to quality-assure the materials and assessment instruments they produce prior to first use. This monitoring will, alongside our improvements to data reporting, give us a clearer picture of market capacity and help apprentices to prepare for their end-point assessment.

Teachers: Pay

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the schools budget to accommodate a pay increase of two per cent as recommended by the School Teachers' Review Body.

Nick Gibb: The Department has published its assessment of teacher pay affordability in our latest schools’ costs technical note. This provides information on costs for schools in 2018-19 and 2019-20, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-costs-technical-note.

Pre-school Education: Closures

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his Answer of 21 February 2019 to Question 222632, on Pre-school Education: Closures, what estimate he has made of the number of children with SEND affected by the closure of maintained nursery schools in the last five years.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his Answer of 21 February 2019 to Question 222629, on Pre-school Education, for what reasons his Department did not refer to the reasons for the reduction in the number of maintained nursery schools since 2010 in that Answer.

Nadhim Zahawi: Like all schools, maintained nursery schools (MNS) can close for a wide range of reasons, and closures can happen at any time. Whether a MNS closes or not is a matter for local authorities, and the statutory process for closing a MNS includes consultation with all those who have an interest. The department does not hold information on the reasons for closures.The department does not hold information on the number of children with special educational needs and disabilities who have been affected by MNS closures, as this is also a matter for local authorities. If a MNS does close, the provision that replaces it must be of equal quality, preserve expertise and be more accessible and convenient for parents.To ensure that local authorities can allocate places in MNS for the 2019/20 academic year with confidence, I announced on 28 February that the government would extend the supplementary funding paid to local authorities, by approximately £24 million. This enables them to fully-fund MNS for the whole of the 2019/20 academic year. What happens after that will be determined by the next Spending Review.

Academies Enterprise Trust: Finance

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2019 to Question 217588, Academies Enterprise Trust: Finance, how much of the £4.5 million provided to date is non-recoverable; and how much of the £3.06 million used for redundancies is non-recoverable.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Free School Meals: Primary Education

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) Wirral and (c) England that were (i) eligible and (ii) not eligible for free school meals attended a primary school rated as (A) good and (B) outstanding in the academic year ending August 2018.

Nadhim Zahawi: The attached table shows the number of children eligible for free school meals (FSM), in Wallasey, Wirral and England, who attended primary schools rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’. As at 31 August 2018, 87% of children are now in primary schools in England rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’.



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Schools: Broadband

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of schools in (a) Wallasey, (b) Wirral and (c) Merseyside with internet speeds of (i) less than 10 Mbps, (ii) between 10 and 30 Mbps and (iii) over 30 Mbps.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Extended Services

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2019 to Question 223144, which Minister is responsible for policy on play services for children aged six and over which is not part of the early years foundation stage statutory framework; and how much funding the Government allocated in support for play for children in (a) after-school clubs, (b) holiday play schemes, (c) adventure playgrounds and (d) play-ranger services in the last three years for which that information is available.

Nadhim Zahawi: I am the minister responsible for children and families. The information on how much government funding is allocated in support of play for children in (a) after-school clubs, (b) holiday play schemes, (c) adventure playgrounds and (d) play-ranger services is not held centrally.As outlined below, the department has invested millions of pounds in enabling all children to access and benefit from a range of enriching activities outside of school.In the 2018 summer holidays we awarded £2 million to 7 organisations to ensure that disadvantaged children in some of the most deprived areas in the country could access free healthy food and enriching activities. In the 2019 summer holidays we will invest up to £9 million to explore how the local coordination of this sort of provision can help more disadvantaged children to access high quality programmes during the school holidays.We have invested £22 million for the academic years 2017/18 and 2018/19 to enable disadvantaged children and young people living in some of the most deprived parts of the country to participate in regular extra-curricular activities (including after school and holiday provision) which will enable them to develop essential life skills and get the best start in life.This Essential Life Skills (ELS) programme is targeting disadvantaged children and young people aged 5-18 across 12 Opportunity Areas. Within each Opportunity Area, local authorities are receiving grants to develop their own ELS programme to meet the needs of pupils and young people in their communities. It is up to the local partnership board in each Opportunity Area to decide what programmes and activities best meet the needs of children and young people in the area.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is formally responsible for ensuring local authorities secure services for young people over the age of 13 as set out in the section 507b of the Education Act (1996) (below that age local authorities have discretion). However, a number of DCMS programmes such as #iwill and the Youth Investment Fund do support organisations that provide 'youth and play' programmes to a broader age range than that provided for in the act.

Social Mobility Commission: Annual Reports

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the timetable is for the Social Mobility Commission’s statutory annual report entitled State of the nation 2018 to be published.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Social Mobility Commission is planning to publish the ‘State of the nation’ report for 2018 in spring 2019.

Academies: Capital Investment

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding academy sponsors have committed to provide in capital funding to academies in England; and how much of that funding has been provided in each of the last five years.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Local Authorities: Work Experience

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many supported internships have been completed by local authority.

Nadhim Zahawi: Data on the number of supported internships in each local authority, as at January 2018, is available in table 5 of the following data set: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statements-of-sen-and-ehc-plans-england-2018.There is some research evidence available which indicates that supported internships may be effective in supporting young people to achieve positive outcomes. The evaluation of a department-led trial of supported internships conducted across 15 colleges in 2012/13, for example, reported that 36% of the 109 supported internship participants had obtained paid employment (including apprenticeships) by the end of the year-long trial.We are keen to do more to increase the uptake of supported internships and are considering how we can build the evidence base further. This includes looking into current models of supported internship delivery to enable us to share evidence with providers of promising practice.

Local Authorities: Work Experience

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the availability of supported internships in each local authority.

Nadhim Zahawi: The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms have been designed to increase aspirations across the system, including among parents, children and young people themselves and the education and health professionals that support them. This includes making it a legal requirement that all children and young people with SEND must be prepared for adulthood, including employment.Supported internships offer young people with SEND a clear pathway into employment. We are keen to do more to increase the uptake of supported internships and are considering how we can build the evidence base further, including looking into current models of supported internship delivery, to enable us to share evidence with providers of promising practice.We continue to fund a range of support across the system to raise aspirations and also consistently communicate our expectations to stakeholders, including schools and colleges. This includes providing £9.7 million to local authorities, in 2018, to establish local supported internship forums, bringing together local partners to develop and deliver supported internships in their area. Funding can also be used to train job coaches.Good practice examples of supported internships are also gathered by our delivery partner, National Development Team for Inclusion, and published on the Preparing for Adulthood website: https://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/downloads/employment.

Leader of the House

Ethnic Groups: China

Helen Goodman: To ask the Leader of the House, what recent discussions she has had with the Foreign Secretary on the situation of Uyghur Muslims in China.

Andrea Leadsom: Following Business Questions on 13 December, I raised the matter directly with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.The Government has serious concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang due to the Chinese Government’s deepening crackdown; including credible reports of the use of political re-education camps and widespread surveillance and restrictions targeted at religious and ethnic minorities – particularly Uyghur Muslims.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Livestock: Conservation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect rare breeds of UK (a) cattle, (b) sheep and (c) pigs.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The UK has one of the richest native rare breed populations in the world and their importance is recognised at both international and UK levels. We have identified 104 UK native breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs.  To protect our native rare breeds Defra works with the Farm Animal Genetic Resources Committee and the evolved administrations on all rare breed issues, particularly their conservation and sustainable use. We have:Established an Annual Inventory to provide data on populations of breeds.Published the UK Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources which, in part, outlines conservation plans and priorities for specialist and native breeds.Carried out annual reviews of the lists of Breeds at Risk present in the UK using statistics taken from the Annual Inventory.Created contingency plan guidance for Breeds at Risk in the event of an exotic disease. Some rare native breeds are also supported through agri-environment schemes. Details on total agreements and value of funding under Defra run schemes, including Environmental Stewardship (HR2) and Countryside Stewardship (SP8) (grazing supplement for rare native breeds), for the years 2015–2018 are: 2015 – 1,454 agreements totalling £2,958,8542016 – 1,404 agreements totalling £2,832,8002017 – 1,340 agreements totalling £2,707,6682018 – 1,310 agreements totalling £2,719,028

Air Pollution: Greater London

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on tackling air pollution in London.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the (a) efficacy of the congestion zone and (b) the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) metro mayors and (b) local authority leaders on the introduction of (i) low emissions zones (ii) charges on vehicles with high emissions.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs attended the Clean Air Summit on 14 February with the Mayor of London, Metro Mayors and city leaders from across the country. A range of issues were discussed at the Summit including the ambitious goals set out in our new Clean Air Strategy, the need to focus on reducing emissions from a variety of sources, and support for local authorities with powers and funding. My officials have regular and ongoing engagement with those local authorities named in the 2017 Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations, to support them in considering measures to address nitrogen dioxide exceedances in their areas. Due to the highly localised nature of the problem, local knowledge is crucial in solving pollution problems in these hotspots. Local authorities are considering a range of measures to tackle their nitrogen dioxide exceedances, including, where appropriate, charging Clean Air Zones. I met the Mayor for the West Midlands, Andy Street, earlier this month and discussed the progress of local authorities in the West Midlands who are developing local air quality plans. I have also spoken with the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, this month about the development of Bristol’s local air quality plan.

Beverage Containers: Recycling

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the introduction of a national deposit return scheme.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government’s preference is to adopt a UK-wide approach to a deposit return scheme (DRS) if one is introduced. Waste and recycling policy is a devolved matter, but we are working closely with the Devolved Administrations in delivering our shared ambitions to improve waste and recycling outcomes and promote resource efficiency in the UK. The recently published consultation on introducing a DRS is being undertaken jointly by the UK and Welsh Governments and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland.

Plastics: Recycling

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has met with major supermarkets to discuss (a) reducing plastic packaging and (b) introducing deposit return schemes for plastics.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Secretary of State has met leaders from retailers, brands, manufacturers and representative organisations to discuss the levels of plastic pollution and how to increase the recyclability of plastics, including ‘on the go’ waste issues. Defra officials have met representatives of major supermarkets where they discussed proposals regarding the introduction of a deposit return scheme.

Plastics: Waste

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to address the problem of plastic waste at design and manufacture level.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, published in January last year, its commitment to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste and to reform the packaging producer responsibility system. Our Resources and Waste Strategy was published in December last year and contains details on how we will do this, including measures to incentivise packaging producers to make better, more sustainable decisions at the design stage and point of manufacture. Through reforming the current system we will require producers to fund the full net cost of managing the packaging they place on the market, once it becomes waste. We will strengthen the incentives of these reforms by also setting minimum ecodesign requirements. Other measures set out in the Strategy, as well as in the Budget 2018, will lead to an increase in the supply and demand for secondary materials. These include the introduction of a deposit return scheme for drinks containers in England, introducing consistency in household and business recycling collections in England and a tax on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content, all subject to consultation. These measures will provide a strong incentive for producers to design and make plastic packaging that uses less virgin materials and is more easily recyclable. The consultations setting out the Government’s proposals on the measures referred to above were published on 18 February this year and can be found at: consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/resource-and-waste-and-plastic-packaging-tax-consu-1.

Fisheries

David Duguid: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to provide financial support to expand the UK fisheries sector following the UK’s departure from the EU common fisheries policy.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: On 10 December 2018 the Secretary of State announced £37.2 million of extra funding for the UK seafood sector – to be spent in line with European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) priorities – for projects approved during 2019 and 2020 to boost the industry as we become an independent coastal state. The Secretary of State has also committed that the Government will put in place new domestic, long term arrangements to support the UK’s fishing industry from 2021, through the creation of four new schemes comparable to the EMFF to deliver funding for each nation. The devolved administrations will lead on their own schemes. The new schemes will be introduced after the EMFF has closed in 2020. Details of these will be set at the 2019 Spending Review, alongside decisions on all other domestic spending priorities.

Food: Packaging

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage food manufacturers to reduce the use of plastic.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out the Government’s ambition to maximise the value we get from resources and to minimise waste. We are committed to being the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it, and to eliminating avoidable plastic waste over the lifetime of the 25 Year Environment Plan. The Government is currently consulting on reforming existing packaging waste regulations to financially incentivise packaging producers, including those who package food products, to take greater responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products. Our plans for Extended Producer Responsibility include requiring producers to pay the full cost of recycling and disposing of their packaging waste and making producers pay more if their products are not easily recyclable. Current packaging waste regulations operate on a UK-wide basis. The benefits of continuing with a UK-wide approach are recognised and our consultation on reforming the regulations is being undertaken jointly by the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments. As the Northern Ireland Assembly is not sitting, the UK Government has agreed to consult on behalf of Northern Ireland. Industry is already taking action. Last year, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation published their Plastics Pact with support from the Government and more than 80 businesses, including major food manufacturers such as Birds Eye, Quorn, and McCain Foods GB. The Pact brings these organisations together to aim to meet four key ambitions by 2025, including making 100% of plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable. The Government welcomes voluntary initiatives aimed at tackling plastic pollution and will continue to seek opportunities to support such work through policy solutions. Plastic packaging can have a role to play in reducing product damage, increasing shelf life and reducing food waste. However, there are opportunities where offering food loose may help to reduce plastic waste while not impacting on shelf life. The Government is working with retailers and WRAP to encourage their efforts to reduce waste and to explore the introduction of plastic free supermarket initiatives in which fresh food is sold loose, giving consumers more choice. WRAP has published a technical report on the evidence for providing fresh produce loose. This report will inform future published guidance.

Biodiversity

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what legislative proposals his Department plans to bring forward to address the decline in biodiversity.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: We are taking action through our widely welcomed Ivory Act to support the conservation of elephants. We will launch a call for evidence in the coming months on extending the ban on UK ivory sales to other ivory-bearing species.Our forthcoming Environment Bill will include ambitious legislative measures to take direct action to restore and enhance nature. Subject to consultation, we will legislate on biodiversity net gain to ensure that new developments have a positive effect on the environment. We will also consider proposals for conservation covenants. In terms of trees, we will take action to stop illegal deforestation and deliver on our manifesto commitment to ensure councils consult if they are removing street trees. This will give the public a greater say in street tree management.

Environment Protection

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made in implementing the 25-Year Environment Plan.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out the Government’s aim to improve the environment within a generation. Since the plan was published, the Government has taken decisive action to tackle some of the biggest environmental problems of our age, including: Preparations are now underway for the first Environment Bill in 20 years, which will put the 25 Year Environment Plan on a statutory footing and create a new independent watchdog to hold Government to account. Publishing a comprehensive Resources and Waste Strategy to drive further action, while introducing one of the world’s strongest microbeads bans and setting out plans to ban plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers.Publishing a new and world leading Clean Air Strategy, which the World Health Organization has welcomed as ‘an example for the rest of the world to follow’.Launching the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance and consulting on plans for more than 40 new marine conservation zones across the UK, marking the most significant ‘Blue Belt’ expansion to date.Putting one of the world’s toughest bans on ivory into law through our landmark Ivory Act.Committing £10 million for an Urban Trees Challenge Fund and announcing £50 million for a new Woodland Carbon Guarantee to stimulate the market in domestic carbon offsetting.Making 2019 the Year of Green Action and putting young people at the heart of this action by partnering with Step Up To Serve and its #iwill4nature campaign. We will report annually to Parliament on the 25 Year Environment Plan, ensuring we are transparent about our progress and achievements and that we can be held to account. The first annual report is due to be laid before Parliament this spring.

Reservoirs: South of England

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled, PR19 initial assessment of plans: South East Water company, published by Ofwat in January 2019, how much of the £306.2 million of funding for South and South Eastern water companies will be allocated to new reservoir infrastructure.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled, PR19 initial assessment of plans: South East Water company, published by Ofwat in January 2019, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate public scrutiny of the options for strategic water resources developed by South and South Eastern water companies.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled, PR19 initial assessment of plans: South East Water company, published by Ofwat in January 2019, how programmes will be funded by the allocation of £306.2 million; and what the timeframe is for the allocation of that funding.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the tendering process was in relation to the allocation of £306.2 million to water companies to develop strategic water resources options for the South and South East of England.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: As part of its initial assessment of water company business plans for the period 2020-2025, the economic regulator, Ofwat, announced that it would make available up to £358 million to companies for planning and pre-construction development of strategic regional water supply options, which may be delivered over the next 5 to 15 years. This funding is for pre-construction activities and not a commitment to construct. Of this £358 million, approximately £109 million is expected to be allocated to planning and pre-construction development of a South East Regional Strategic Reservoir. The rest of the funding is for development of alternative options for meeting the future water needs of the South East. This funding will be made available through a gated process and Ofwat will claw back funding where a water supply option does not progress. Ofwat expects water companies to set out in revised business plans by 1 April, how they will work together to develop strategic supply options, how they meet the gated process and costs of completing works to achieve those gates, and how funding will be clawed back where schemes fail to achieve their milestones to the expected quality.Strategic water resources solutions will be subject to public scrutiny through the statutory water resources management planning process and the planning regime, which will include the Planning Act 2008 processes for nationally significant water resources infrastructure.

Flood Control: Finance

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on the new £70 million flood defences scheme.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Flood defence spending is a devolved matter, so questions about flood management spending and policy should be directed to the devolved administration as Defra does not have information on devolved administration spending. The Barnett formula is applied in the normal way to any new funding provided to UK Government Departments, when the funding is allocated to those Departments’ budgets. ‘Barnetted’ funding to devolved administrations is not ring fenced.

Nature Conservation

James Cartlidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to preserve rare and native breeds by categorising genetic resources as public goods.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Agriculture Bill sets out an ambitious future for farming outside of the EU, moving towards a system where public money is invested in things which the public value, in particular protecting and enhancing our environment. Public goods include clean air, clean and plentiful water, and thriving plants and wildlife. Farmers and land managers can deliver these public goods through managing their assets. Genetic resources are an important asset. For example, preserving genetic resources can strengthen pest and disease resilience which contributes towards improving the health and welfare of livestock (clause 1(1)(f) of Agriculture Bill). Similarly, grazing native, local breeds in upland areas can contribute towards enhancement of our cultural and natural heritage (clause 1(1)(c) of Agriculture Bill). The financial assistance powers in clause 1(1) and 1(2) in the Agriculture Bill could be used to support genetic resources where this contributes to the delivery of the purpose set out in the clause.

Microplastics

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) prevent microplastics from entering the natural environment and (b) tackle the damage caused by microplastics that are in the natural environment.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra funded a 5-year-long study to investigate the potential harm caused by microplastics in the marine environment. On the basis of the results of this study, last year we introduced one of the world’s strongest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products. Microbeads, like other microplastics, do not biodegrade and therefore accumulate in the environment. To address the evidence gaps surrounding other sources of microplastics, we are funding research by the University of Plymouth into textiles and tyres which are estimated to be significant sources of microplastics in the marine environment. Water infrastructure is an important pathway for contaminants, including microplastics, to enter the aquatic environment. We are working with water companies and researchers to understand the scale of the issue, evaluate the effectiveness of treatment systems at removing microplastics and assess the impacts of microplastics in aquatic environments. Our priority will continue to be preventing plastic entering the environment in the first place and eliminating avoidable plastic waste over the lifetime of the 25 Year Environment Plan. The Resources and Waste Strategy, published in December last year, sets out our plans to eliminate avoidable plastic waste. We will take action at each stage of the product lifecycle: production, consumption and end of life.

Plastics

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to phase out the (a) production and (b) use of unneeded plastics.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: This Government is taking action to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. We have introduced one of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products, and have significantly reduced the use of plastic bags by around 86% with our 5p carrier bag charge. We recognise that more needs to be done, which is why we have set out an ambitious approach in our 25 Year Environment Plan. The Resources and Waste Strategy, published December last year, sets out our plans to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. We will take action at each stage of the product lifecycle: production, consumption and end of life. At the production stage, this includes encouraging producers to take more responsibility for the environmental impact of their products and making sure plastic items are more carefully designed. At the consumer stage we want to reduce demand for single-use plastic. At the end of life stage, we will make it easier for people to recycle and increase the amount of plastic being recycled. The Government has set out proposals to reform the current packaging producer responsibility regulations, invoking the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle to financially incentivise producers to take greater responsibility for the environmental impacts of packaging they place on the market. This includes mechanisms to incentivise better design, encourage the use of recycled material and ensure that producers pay the full costs of disposal for packaging they place on the market. These measures aim to reduce the amount of unnecessary and difficult to recycle packaging and increase the amount of packaging that can and is recycled, including plastic packaging. We are currently consulting on these proposals in conjunction with the Scottish Government. The consultation will close on 13 May and can be accessed at: www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plans-to-overhaul-waste-system.

Sea Bass

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department will take to tackle the problem of illegal landing of undersized bass; and for what reason the Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority might face a legal challenge if they prohibited gill net meshes from 89 mm to 109 mm in order to stop this practice.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: There are clear rules in place requiring that undersized catches of species not yet subject to the landing obligation, such as bass, are not retained on board, trans-shipped, landed, transported, stored, sold, displayed or offered for sale, but shall be returned immediately to the sea. This is a long standing principle which will continue to be enforced accordingly. Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) are independent statutory authorities and have direct responsibility for the protection of sea fisheries resources in their districts, and for the sustainable management of their exploitation. When an activity is occurring, or may occur, that is likely to impact the marine environment, the IFCA, as regulator, is expected to consider the significance of this within its district. Cornwall IFCA recently considered using its powers under Section 157(2) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to introduce an emergency byelaw to address bass netting issues. However, this was judged to not fully meet the qualifying criteria for an emergency byelaw as stated in the Act and could potentially be challenged on those grounds.

Air Pollution: Liverpool City Region

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Liverpool City Region Mayor on tackling air pollution in the Liverpool City Region area.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs attended the Clean Air Summit on 14 February with the Liverpool City Region Mayor and city leaders from across the country. A range of issues were discussed at the Summit including the ambitious goals set out in our new Clean Air Strategy, the need to focus on reducing emissions from a variety of sources, and support for local authorities with powers and funding. Defra officials have regular and ongoing engagement with those local authorities named in the 2017 Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations to support them in considering measures to address nitrogen dioxide exceedances in their areas, including Liverpool City Council. Liverpool City Council have been directed to develop a local plan by 31 October 2019 and on 28 February this year presented an update on their plan to senior representatives in the Joint Air Quality Unit. Due to the highly localised nature of the problem, local knowledge is crucial in solving pollution problems in these hotspots. Local authorities, including Liverpool, are considering a range of measures to tackle their nitrogen dioxide exceedances, including, where appropriate, charging Clean Air Zones.

Packaging: Regulation

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce the amount of excessive and unnecessary packaging materials being used; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, published in January 2018, its commitment to reform the packaging producer responsibility system. Our Resources and Waste Strategy was published in December 2018 and contains details on how we will do this, including measures to incentivise packaging producers to make better, more sustainable decisions at the design stage and point of manufacture. Through replacing the current system with Extended Producer Responsibility we will require producers to fund the full net cost of managing the packaging they place on the market, once it becomes waste. These measures will provide a strong incentive to producers to reduce the amount of packaging they use and to make packaging that is more easily collected and recycled. The proposals are open to consultation until 13 May 2019 and can be found here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/consultation-on-reforming-the-uk-packaging-produce/. The Government has also committed in the Resources and Waste Strategy to review the effectiveness of the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2015 by the end of 2020. These regulations set out rules that producers of packaging must follow when designing packaging, including the requirement that packaging should be kept to a minimum volume and weight.

Palm Oil

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to reduce domestic demand for palm oil in the biofuel and food industries; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambition to support and protect the world’s forests, supporting sustainable agriculture and zero-deforestation supply chains, including for palm oil. The plan led to the establishment of a Global Resource Initiative aimed at reducing deforestation caused by UK demand for commodities, including palm oil. The Government also helped convene the UK Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and is working with the signatories of the Amsterdam Declaration on increasing the uptake of sustainable palm oil. The latest report from the UK Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil indicates that the UK achieved 75% certified sustainable palm oil in 2017. Biofuels made from palm oil have not been reported for supply under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) in the last three years and the use of non-waste oils in biofuel is minimal. The Government has agreed to focus on utilising waste derived biofuels, which generally have higher greenhouse gas savings. The most recent changes to the RTFO, which set out the UK biofuel policy to 2032, include a cap on the contribution of crop based biofuels in the UK, decreasing from 4% in 2020 to 2% in 2032.

Palm Oil

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the sustainability of palm oil production; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambition to support and protect the world’s forests, supporting sustainable agriculture and zero-deforestation supply chains, including for palm oil. The market for sustainable palm oil is dominated by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and so ’sustainable’ in this context is commonly understood to mean products certified to RSPO standards and criteria. The UK Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil convened by the UK Government is working to improve reporting, traceability and understanding of supply chains to ensure continuous improvement and increased use of certified palm oil. The UK monitors the proportion of certified sustainable palm oil imported to the UK. The latest annual report from the UK Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil indicates that the UK achieved 75% certified sustainable palm oil in 2017.

Department for Exiting the European Union

European University Institute

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he is taking in negotiations with his EU counterparts to ensure the UK’s continued membership of the European University Institute Convention.

Mr Robin Walker: The Government has made clear that it values international exchange and collaboration. Officials in the Department for Exiting the EU and the Department for Education have met with the EUI to hold discussions to explore options to provide continuity and ensure UK students at the EUI can complete their studies.Should Parliament approve the deal the Prime Minister has negotiated with the EU, the UK will continue to apply the terms of the EUI Convention for the duration of the implementation period. The UK’s rights and obligations under the Convention would continue during that period, in accordance with the Withdrawal Agreement. The Political Declaration sets out that we will establish general principles, terms and conditions for UK participation in EU programmes in areas of shared interest, and wider dialogues to allow us to share best practice and act together in our mutual interest. On this basis, we will explore with the European University Institute options for future participation in its activities and we will work to ensure that UK students at the EUI will be able to complete their studies.Furthermore, UK universities will be able to continue to collaborate with the EUI in research projects even if the UK is no longer a member of the EUI Convention.

European University Institute

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether it remains the Government’s assessment that the UK will automatically leave the European University Institute Convention on 29 March 2019.

Mr Robin Walker: The European University Institute Convention (EUIC) is an agreement between the Member States of the European Union. After 29 March 2019, the United Kingdom will cease to be a Member State of the European Union and, as such, the UK’s membership of the EUIC will automatically cease. Should Parliament approve the deal the Prime Minister has negotiated with the EU, the UK will continue to apply the terms of the EUI Convention for the duration of the implementation period. The UK’s rights and obligations under the Convention would continue during that period, in accordance with the Withdrawal Agreement.Officials in my department and in the Department for Education have met with the EUI to explore options for future participation in its activities and we will work to ensure that UK students at the EUI will be able to complete their studies. Furthermore, UK universities will be able to continue to collaborate with the EUI in research projects even if the UK is no longer a member of the EUI Convention.

European Parliament: Elections

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether extending Article 50 would lead to a requirement to hold elections in the UK to the European Parliament.

Kwasi Kwarteng: As the Prime Minister said in her statement to the House, we do not want to see Article 50 extended. She was also clear that any extension should be time-limited and as short as possible, and a short extension would almost certainly have to be a one-off.As the Prime Minister has said, holding European Parliament elections would not be consistent with the result of the referendum.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Procurement

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the guidance entitled, Procurement policy note 03/14: measures to promote tax compliance, published on 6 February 2014, how many suppliers were allocated contracts by his Department as a result of complying with (a) one and (b) more than one of the mitigating circumstances after not meeting the tax compliance questions.

Chris Heaton-Harris: No suppliers have been excluded from bidding for contracts due to not meeting the criteria in Procurement Policy Note 03/14 since the Department was created in 2016.

Brexit

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what plans he has to negotiate a separate transition period with the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Mr Robin Walker: The Implementation Period - as set out in Part Four of the Withdrawal Agreement - is intended to give businesses and citizens certainty. Without a Withdrawal Agreement, there can be no Implementation Period. That is why we are working with the EU so Parliament can support a deal and the UK can leave the EU in a smooth and orderly way on 29 March 2019.

Fisheries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on negotiations on fishing policy after the UK leaves the EU.

Kwasi Kwarteng: We continue to have regular conversations with ministerial colleagues across Government on all aspects of exiting the EU, including on fisheries policy.The Government has been absolutely clear that as we leave the EU, we will be become an independent coastal state. For the first time in more than 40 years, we will introduce our own independent fisheries policy and decide who can fish in our waters, and on what terms.

Attorney General

Prosecutions

Steve McCabe: To ask the Attorney General, how many cases have been passed to the CPS by the police which the CPS has decided not to pursue (a) in each region and (b) at CPS Direct in each year since 2009.

Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of suspects (not cases) referred to prosecutors for a pre-charge decision and the number of decisions not to prosecute suspects following a charging decision.The tables at Annex 1 show the outcome of referrals from the police for a pre charge decision. Data is provided for each one of the CPS’ regional Areas from 2009/10 to 2017/18. This dataset incorporates all decisions taken by CPS Direct over this period.The outcome of a decision can be one of the following: Charge; Prosecutors must be satisfied there is enough evidence to provide a "realistic prospect of conviction" against each defendant and that the prosecution is in the public interest.Take no further action for either evidential or public interest reasons;Recommend that an out of court disposal is appropriate, such as a caution, conditional caution or that the offence is taken into consideration with other charges;Administratively Finalise in cases where an early investigative advice has been sought by the police or, there is insufficient evidence to bring a charge at first referral, the police have been asked to complete an action plan and no further evidence is forthcoming. These cases may be reopened, if at a later date, new material is provided to the prosecution enabling a charging decision to be made; andOther, when the result of the charging decision is not known or has not been given for that suspect. The Charging and No Further Action (NFA) rates will vary from Area to Area depending upon the practice of local police forces to NFA weak cases without reference to the CPS. The Administratively Finalised rate is largely determined by the number of cases referred to the CPS for early investigative advice. In recent years, there has been a rise in the proportion of cases administratively finalised following an increased use of early investigative advice in rape cases.



Annex 1
(Excel SpreadSheet, 30.74 KB)

Ministry of Justice

Homicide: Convictions

Hannah Bardell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many UK citizens have been convicted in England and Wales for the (a) murder and (b) manslaughter of a UK citizen overseas.

Hannah Bardell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many UK citizens have been convicted in England and Wales for the (a) murder and (b) manslaughter of a non-UK citizen overseas.

Hannah Bardell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many UK citizens have been tried in England and Wales for the (a) murder and (b) manslaughter of a UK citizen overseas.

Hannah Bardell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many UK citizens have been tried in England and Wales for the (a) murder and (b) manslaughter of a non-UK citizen overseas.

Rory Stewart: The number of defendants prosecuted and convicted for murder and manslaughter is published up to December 2017 and available in the Outcomes by Offence data tool available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/733981/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2017-update.xlsx Detailed information on the nationality of the defendant/offender and victim may be held on court record but to be able to identify these cases we would have to access individual court records which would be of disproportionate cost.

Sexual Offences: Compensation

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the use of compulsory compensation orders in ensuring that adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse receive redress.

Edward Argar: We have not made any such assessment. Compensation orders are made at the discretion of the sentencing court, which must have regard to the offender’s means. Section 130 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 gives the courts power to order a person convicted of a criminal offence, including sexual offending against children, to compensate a victim financially, primarily for personal injury, loss or damage. The Government believes that it is important for offenders to make reparation for their crimes, and in recent years this regime has been strengthened by obliging courts to consider making a compensation order in appropriate cases, and lifting the £5,000 cap on compensation awards in respect of offenders aged 18 or over in the magistrates’ court.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: ICT

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what contingency plans his Department has put in place in the event of future probation and courts IT systems failure.

Edward Argar: The department is conducting a review of the resiliency of our core IT systems. The review is being conducted by a Non-Executive Director, with support from a third-party technical consultancy, and will report within eight weeks. Individual agencies, including HM Courts and Tribunals, the National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies have their own operational contingency arrangements in case of further IT systems failures.

Coroners

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with the Office of the Chief Coroner on the recording of known veterans as such in inquests where the verdict is one of suicide.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coroners

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on enabling coroners to access departmental information to determine whether a person on whom an inquest has been held where the verdict was suicide was a veteran.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cabinet Office

Funerals: Duchy of Cornwall and Duchy of Lancaster

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance he provides to local authorities in the Duchies of (a) Lancaster and (b) Cornwall on procedures relating to the estates of people for whom they assume responsibility for a public health funeral.

Mr David Lidington: The Cabinet Office does not hold information on public health funerals.

Grenfell Tower Inquiry

Emma Dent Coad: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Grenfell Tower Inquiry has spent on legal representation for (a) bereaved, (b) survivor and (c) local resident core participants since the inquiry was set up.

Mr David Lidington: The independent Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry is committed to publishing its costs on a regular basis. Costs for Phase 1 will be published once Phase 1 has completed.

Blood: Contamination

Jo Platt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make is his policy to implement any recommendations from the contaminated blood inquiry.

Mr David Lidington: Until the report of the Infected Blood Inquiry is received it is difficult to commit to implement its recommendations. However, on receipt of the Inquiry’s report the Government will make a full statement to Parliament and will give the Inquiry’s recommendations full and proper consideration which we will do with the utmost urgency, recognising that many infected people have passed away since the start of the Inquiry, and every day that passes before the Inquiry completes its work risks further tragic losses.

Early Years Ministerial Group On Family Support

Lucy Powell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many occasions the ministerial group on family support has met since its inception on 27 July 2018.

Mr David Lidington: Members of the Ministerial Group have met informally to discuss the work of the group and to hear from experts and the Chair also meets with members of the group individually. The Group has met twice formally since its inception in July 2018, once in November 2018 and once in February 2019. The Ministerial Group Chair is supported by a private secretary who has portfolio responsibility from within the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons. The secretariat function for the Early Years Family Support Ministerial Group is provided by the Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. The group draws on resources from HM Treasury, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education, Department for Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Housing, Communications, and Local Government, and Home Office.

Early Years Ministerial Group On Family Support

Lucy Powell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials are assigned to work on the Ministerial Group on family support for conception to age two from the (a) Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, (b) HM Treasury, (c) Department for Work and Pensions, (d) Department for Education, (e) Department of Health and Social Care and (f) Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Mr David Lidington: Members of the Ministerial Group have met informally to discuss the work of the group and to hear from experts and the Chair also meets with members of the group individually. The Group has met twice formally since its inception in July 2018, once in November 2018 and once in February 2019. The Ministerial Group Chair is supported by a private secretary who has portfolio responsibility from within the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons. The secretariat function for the Early Years Family Support Ministerial Group is provided by the Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. The group draws on resources from HM Treasury, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education, Department for Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Housing, Communications, and Local Government, and Home Office.

Personal Income

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the proportion changes in income for each income quintile from the financial year 2017 to financial year 2018.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 73.38 KB)

Cabinet Office: Mass Media

Jo Platt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Rapid Response Unit.

Chloe Smith: Following a successful period of pilot operations from April 2018, the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) was recently given permanent funding. The RRU is helping government to understand the increasingly complex online news environment. This ensures government communications are impactful and that we are able to act with speed to ensure we tackle false information identified online, promoting a fact-based public debate. The unit is driving improvements across government, providing media offices with the tools and skills needed to communicate effectively with citizens in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. This involves raising standards of reporting and evaluation, and ensuring communications professionals are able to quickly and effectively respond to the modern news environment, including mis- and disinformation.

Cervical Cancer: Older People

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many women aged 65 and over were diagnosed with cervical cancer in each of the last five years.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 172.32 KB)

Boundary Commission for England

David Linden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff in his Department have been tasked with preparing Orders in Council to implement recommendations of the Boundary Commission.

Chloe Smith: We are preparing a draft Order in Council that will give effect to the recommendations contained in the final reports of the four Boundary Commissions. I am not able to give a figure of the number of staff involved in the preparation of the Order as they work on a number of different projects at any one time. We will lay the draft Order in Council before Parliament as soon as possible, and it will be debated and there will be a vote in both Houses in the usual way.

Boundary Commission for England

David Linden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, by what date he has asked for Orders in Council to be prepared to implement recommendations of the Boundary Commission.

Chloe Smith: We are preparing a draft Order in Council that will give effect to the recommendations contained in the final reports of the four Boundary Commissions. I am not able to give a figure of the number of staff involved in the preparation of the Order as they work on a number of different projects at any one time. We will lay the draft Order in Council before Parliament as soon as possible, and it will be debated and there will be a vote in both Houses in the usual way.

Breast Cancer: Greater London

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many deaths in the Central and East London area have been caused by breast cancer in each of the last five years.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 137.5 KB)

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons: Apprentices

Robert Halfon: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the House of Commons currently meeting the Public Sector Apprenticeship Target of employing at least 2.3 per cent of their staff as new apprentice starts; and whether steps are being taking to ensure that target is met by March 2021.

Robert Halfon: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the House of Commons is taking any steps to exceed the public sector apprenticeship target.

Robert Halfon: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission has plans to increase the (a) number and (b) range of apprenticeship programmes provided by the House of Commons.

Tom Brake: The House does not currently meet the public sector apprenticeship target but plans to meet or exceed it by March 2021. That would require around 55 apprentices per year based on current headcount. A new lead provider was appointed in September 2018 with a broader training offering. Work is also ongoing across the House to identify apprenticeship roles including upskilling of existing employees through an apprenticeship, and recruitment of new apprentices.The House’s priority is to meet the 2.3% target by March 2021. However, if in a position to do so we will review this to see what more can be done, once the target has been met.The number of apprenticeships offered has increased from 10 per year (2012–2018) to 12 in January 2019, with further enrolments planned over the coming months to reach around 25 to 30 apprentices by April 2019.The range of apprenticeship programmes on offer has been expanded from two to fourteen Standards since September 2018 and this is expected to be expanded further during 2019.A ‘Standard’ is the name of the apprenticeship training which replaced the older style ‘Frameworks’ training when the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in May 2017.

House of Commons: Apprentices

Robert Halfon: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many apprentices employed by the House of Commons are working towards a degree apprenticeship qualification.

Robert Halfon: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a comparative estimate of the number of apprentices employed by the House of Commons and the House of Lords who are working towards a degree apprenticeship qualification.

Robert Halfon: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many apprentices employed by the House of Commons are working towards (a) Level 2, (b) Level 3, (c) Level 4 and (d) higher or degree apprenticeship qualifications.

Tom Brake: At present, none of our apprentices are working towards a degree apprenticeship but we are still expanding our offering and have the capability to offer apprenticeships at this levelWe are working closely with our providers to ensure that each apprenticeship is an appropriate match with the learner level and the role they are doing. In our plans for the future we envisage degree apprenticeships as part of a structured approach to our development across House teams.We do not hold information for the House of Lords.(a) Three apprentices are working towards a Level 2 qualification and this will rise to 16 apprentices in April;(b) Five apprentices are working towards a Level 3 qualification with a further four apprentices enrolling in March and another four planned for later in the year(c) One apprentice is working towards a Level 4 qualification; and(d) Three apprentices are working towards a higher apprenticeship qualification.